18 Monkeys Dead at South Carolina Facility, Animal Rights Group Reports
The US Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has launched an investigation into claims made by the animal rights protection group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) that around 18 endangered long-tailed macaques died last week at the Alpha Genesis Primate Research Center in South Carolina.
PETA claimed that the alleged fatalities were caused by a faulty heater malfunction at the center, which breeds primates often used for biomedical research. The group’s primate scientist, Dr. Lisa Jones-Engel, cited “multiple whistleblower reports” to support its allegations.
APHI responded to the complaint by saying that it takes the Animal Welfare Act seriously and is reviewing the allegations to determine whether there are any violations of the act that require follow-up. However, the agency did not confirm the alleged whistleblower reports.
Alpha Genesis, the center accused of the alleged maltreatment, has been plagued with previous incidents. Earlier this month, 43 primates escaped from the center after an employee failed to properly secure a door. Although most of the primates were recaptured, four remained unaccounted for. In 2014 and 2016, the center was also subject to fines from APHIS after primates escaped due to inadequate enclosure supervision.
Long-tailed macaques and rhesus macaques have been used extensively in scientific research and have played a significant role in the development of vaccines and therapies for human diseases. Despite the potential benefits of research involving nonhuman primates, it has been criticized for allegedly mistreating animals used in these studies.