Animal Advocates Push for Chimp Relocation After Deaths at Alamogordo Facility
For over a decade, animal rights advocates have been pushing for better living conditions for some of New Mexico’s oldest and sickest chimpanzees, but their efforts have largely been unsuccessful. Following the recent deaths of several chimps, these advocates are calling for stronger action from the federal government.
“We are fighting hard to get these chimps to a sanctuary,” said Gene Grant, Chief Program & Policy Officer for Animal Protection New Mexico (APNM).
Since October 2023, five adult chimpanzees housed at the Alamogordo Primate Facility (APF) on Holloman Air Force Base have died, leaving 23 chimps remaining.
“They’re languishing at APF,” Grant added.
The causes of death vary, from heart issues to HIV and old age. The facility, managed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), previously served as a site for biomedical research, which ended several years ago. However, animal rights advocates argue that the facility is no longer suitable for the chimps. KRQE News 13 reached out to the NIH for a comment but did not receive a response.
“Holloman Air Force Base is a significant part of New Mexico’s military presence, but the chimps shouldn’t be there,” Grant said.
A federal judge ruled in 2022 that the chimps should be relocated to Chimp Haven, a 200-acre sanctuary in Louisiana. Despite this ruling, the chimps remain in Alamogordo. Advocates argue that the sanctuary provides superior living conditions and would also save taxpayers money.
“The law is clear; the CHIMP Act requires these chimps to be moved to sanctuaries,” Grant emphasized.
According to APNM data, the daily cost to keep a chimp at the Alamogordo facility is around $229, while the cost at the Louisiana sanctuary is just $76 per day. Despite years of lobbying, the federal government has made little progress in relocating the animals. “The CHIMP Act was designed specifically to relocate these chimpanzees, regardless of their health,” Grant added.
Since the start of 2024, over 130,000 people have contacted APNM urging the federal government to follow through with the judge’s ruling. A recent APNM poll shows that over half of the respondents believe the chimps should be moved, and the NIH should be pressured to act.
“Delays are not in the best interest of the chimps,” Grant said. “When the government drags its feet, chimps die.”
