{
  "id": 5796926,
  "title": "'Second chance': Chimps used in hepatitis B experiments get health checks in Liberia",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/05/second-chance-chimps-used-in-hepatitis-b-experiments-get-health",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-09-05T15:48:58.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Times of India",
    "slug": "times-of-india",
    "url": "https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/second-chance-chimps-used-in-hepatitis-b-experiments-get-comprehensive-health-checks-in-liberia/articleshow/133806950.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Chimpanzees previously utilized in hepatitis B vaccine experiments are receiving thorough health assessments at a sanctuary in Liberia, providing them a chance to live safely. The West African chimpanzees underwent a range of examinations at Humane World for Animals Second Chance Chimpanzee Refuge in central Liberia, including dental checks, X-rays, blood tests, and nail trims, as reported by the sanctuary's director Liliana Pacheco Ricote to The Associated Press.\n\nMore than 400 chimpanzees were employed in hepatitis B vaccine experiments in Liberia between the 1970s and early 2000s, according to Ricote. Many were captured as infants from the wild and subjected to invasive procedures. Humane World for Animals took over permanent responsibility for the 60 chimpanzees that remained after the research program concluded in 2015. The animals reside primarily on a group of mangrove-covered islands within the sanctuary.\n\nThe latest health checks were conducted under anesthesia, aiming to provide a comprehensive head-to-toe evaluation of the chimpanzees' well-being, detect early signs of disease, and aid veterinarians in creating tailored care plans for the aging animals. The assessments encompassed examinations of the teeth, heart, lungs, nervous system, along with blood tests, booster vaccinations, and nail trims. The sanctuary veterinarian, Belen Perez Hernando, emphasized that these health checks are crucial for caring for these chimpanzees who have experienced significant hardship.\n\nThe chimpanzees are currently aged between 30 and 35 years old. The complete findings from the latest evaluations are still being compiled, leaving the long-term consequences of their research experience uncertain. Despite the physical and behavioral effects of the experiments still being evident in some animals, Ricote highlighted the sanctuary's mission to provide individual care for the remaining chimpanzees for the remainder of their lives. Witnessing the animals' suffering and the regret over what was done, she expressed her pleasure in granting them a second chance to live with dignity and the life they rightfully deserve.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}