For a number of years, Rita Anderson and other members of the Committee for Research Accountability (CRA), a project of IDA, sought to convince the University of Colorado (CU) to end the use of primates in research and to transfer 34 monkeys who had been used in alcoholism and maternal separation experiments to a sanctuary where they could live in peace. Thanks to their outstanding work, 11 of these bonnet macaque monkeys were relocated to a Texas sanctuary in August 2006. Though these primates suffered terribly in the name of “science,” animal advocates can at least celebrate the fact that they will spend the remainder of their lives in a safe and healthy environment where they will be free from cruel and invasive experiments. 

The monkeys, who range in age from infants to 20 years old, have all lived at CU since birth and were the subjects of widely criticized studies led by researcher Mark Laudenslager. In his first series of experiments, Laudenslager spent 17 years separating infant monkeys from their mothers to observe the biological and physiological consequences. In his next project, which is still going on, Laudenslager serves alcohol to young monkeys to determine whether those with less attentive mothers will drink more than those whose mothers provide better care. 

During and after Laudenslager's experiments, the monkeys lived in a 100 year-old basement which did not even meet federal standards. Meanwhile, the CRA continued to galvanize public opinion and exert mounting pressure on the University to get CU to send the primates to a sanctuary that had already agreed to provide for their care. However, CU officials demanded between $10,000 and $15,000 for each monkey, the number of had risen from 34 to 48.

Earlier in 2006, the University raised public ire when it decided to send approximately 37 bonnet macaque monkeys to Wake Forest University (WFU) in North Carolina, some of them having already suffered the lifelong consequences of severe depression, anxiety, loneliness and fear brought on by Laudenslager’s experiments. Documents obtained by IDA indicate that Laudenslager will continue to conduct his alcohol study long-distance from CU in Denver, even though the primate subjects of his experiments will be 2,000 miles away. 

The 11 monkeys sent to a sanctuary are the lucky ones. For the first time in their lives, they are feeling the sun on their backs and grass under their feet and no longer have to fear being subjected to cruel experiments. With determination, the CRA was able to secure their freedom without paying the exorbitant ransom initially demanded by University officials.

For more information on the history of the campaign to free the CU-34, visit FreeTheCU34.org.

What You Can Do:

National Primate Liberation Week (NPLW) takes place this year from October 7th to 15th, offering concerned people an excellent opportunity to join other advocates in speaking out for the chimpanzees, monkeys, marmosets, lemurs, and other innocent primates who suffer and die in research experiments. To participate in or organize an event, write to saen@saenonline.org.