Chimpanzees once used for vaccine research get health checks as part of long-term care
In Liberia, a sanctuary for chimpanzees called Humane World for Animals has been conducting comprehensive health checks on a group of chimps who were once used in hepatitis B vaccine experiments. The sanctuary, located on mangrove forest-covered islands, aims to provide these chimpanzees with a second chance at a normal life. Over 400 West African chimpanzees, many of which were captured in the wild as infants, were used for research in Liberia between the 1970s and early 2000s.
The West African chimpanzee species is critically endangered due to their rapidly decreasing population. The sanctuary's director, Liliana Pacheco Ricote, explained that the chimpanzees underwent invasive research and suffered immensely during the experiments. In 2015, Humane World for Animals took responsibility for 60 of the remaining chimpanzees.
The recent health checks, performed under anesthesia, involved a thorough examination of the chimpanzees' heads, teeth, heart, lungs, nervous system, blood, and nails. Boosters vaccines and pedicures were also administered to the chimps. Plans are in place to carry out similar health checks for the remaining chimpanzees.
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