ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF COULSTON FOUNDATION CLOSURE AND LIBERATION OF CHIMPANZEES CELEBRATED

Alamogordo, NM (September 16, 2003) - Today marks the one-year anniversary of the historic closure of The Coulston Foundation and the resulting liberation of hundreds of chimpanzees and monkeys, In Defense of Animals (IDA) and Animal Protection of New Mexico (APNM) announced today.

After an eight-year campaign spearheaded by IDA that involved unprecedented regulatory action, Congressional scrutiny, suspension of federal funds, international media attention and a hemorrhaging of the lab's money and customers, Coulston was forced to donate its 266 chimpanzees and 61 monkeys to the Center for Captive Chimpanzee Care, a state-of-the-art sanctuary based in Florida. This was the first time in history that an animal protection campaign had forced the closure of an entire research lab.

Since the Center took over care of the primates on September 16, 2002, the progress at the former research lab has been extraordinary. Significant changes have been made to what sanctuary Director Dr. Carole Noon has called the ex-Coulston "dungeon," including the installation of skylights as well as a perimeter fence that enables the chimpanzees to go outside when they choose. Dr. Noon has hired dozens of new staff members dedicated solely to what is best for the chimpanzees, who now receive fresh fruits and vegetables daily, as well as blankets for nesting and toys.

"We cannot thank the Center enough for the remarkable changes they continue to make for the chimpanzees and monkeys," said IDA Research Director Eric Kleiman. "When we started our campaign in 1994, we dared not dream of such a wonderful outcome." Kleiman also offered special thanks for the "incredible generosity" of the Arcus Foundation, which enabled the Center to take over the ex-Coulston lab with a multi-million dollar grant and continues to match donations to the Center dollar for dollar.

Additional financial assistance was provided by IDA and the New England Anti-Vivisection Society. APNM worked closely with IDA for years on the campaign, and its volunteers help at the Center. Other groups such as the Animal Welfare Institute and Doris Day Animal League also provided key support.

"Although today we celebrate the liberation of hundreds of chimpanzees, we are sobered by the fact that over 1,200 remain incarcerated at other labs," continued Kleiman. Many of the experiments on chimpanzees are funded by the National Institutes of Health, which was forced to suspend funding to Coulston after IDA exposed the agency's repeated lies to Congress and the public as well as its multiple violations of federal law. Congress is currently investigating the NIH's actions regarding Coulston. "Our campaign against government-funded chimpanzee research has only just begun," said Kleiman.

APNM Executive Director Lisa Jennings concluded, "The chimpanzees in Alamogordo should serve as a constant reminder that there are others just like them, still imprisoned in other government-sponsored dungeons around the country. They also must be freed."

The Center has received toys, blankets and other items from across the U.S. For information on how to donate money or items to the Center, please see http://www.savethechimps.org.

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In Defense of Animals, located in Mill Valley, CA, is a national, animal protection organization dedicated to ending the abuse and exploitation of animals by protecting their rights and welfare.