Primate Rescue Center

PRC Executive Director April Truitt shares her thoughts on the retirement of chimpanzees with the The Atlanta-Journal Constitution in this story about Wenka, a 57-year-old chimpanzee used at Emory University's Yerkes National Primate Research Center. Click here to read Wenka's story.

We were thrilled to receive the news from our friends at Project R&R (Release & Restitution for Chimpanzees in U.S. Laboratories) today that the Great Ape Protection and Cost Savings Act has been reintroduced in the 112th Congress. HR1513/S810 has the leadership of Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD) as well as 42 cosponsors. Formerly known as the Great Ape Protection Act, we're hopeful that the addition of the "Cost Savings" element will be just the ticket this bill needs to pass both House and Senate. If you'd like to add your voice to the many supporting this effort, you'll find several ways to do so at ReleaseChimps.org.

Last fall we received an unusual phone call from Canadian artist Troy Wilson. He explained that he wanted to create a charity comic anthology to benefit the Primate Rescue Center. Each week would feature a new primate themed comic by both well-known and up-and-coming creators. Visitors to the site would be encouraged to make a donation to the Primate Rescue Center.

After taking a moment for the information and idea to absorb, we let him know that we were thrilled to be part of such a creative idea!

The first comic for Panels for Primates was launched October 6, 2010 on ACT-I-VATE.com. So far 23 comic strips by 36 different creators have been posted, with new ones coming out each week. We estimate that more than $300 has been donated and we have had countless visitors to our website due to this unique endeavor.   

The comics are very entertaining and the creativity is amazing. We are very thankful to Troy Wilson and the many contributors of Panels for Primates for featuring the PRC. They have found a truly unique way to share information about the plight of primates and introduced the PRC to a completely new audience.

Make sure you bookmark the site www.act-i-vate.com so you can read each new comic and enjoy the ones you may have missed.

Judging from the backlash CareerBuilder has received for reviving their exploitive use of chimpanzees in their recent Super Bowl ad - I was not the only one disgusted to see Great Apes returning to the Super Bowl ad line-up after a four year hiatus. We've featured several relevant articles and editorials on our In the News page.

It was no surprise when the usual suspects - PETA & HSUS - were among the loudest voices condemning the abusive practice of using apes as actors. But when the brave folks at Advertising Age stepped up and called out CareerBuilder for their poor decision making, I couldn't help but jump up and cheer!

We rightly expect the big humane groups to be familiar with the cruel practices surrounding the acquisition and disposal of Great Apes in entertainment - that's their world. However, when a major ad industry trade publication points out that eighteen ad agencies have agreed to stop using live apes in the commercials they produce, well that starts to feel like real progress.

It's simply no longer fashionable - or funny - to use and abuse our closest cousins in this way.

In the not-to-distant future, I fully expect that we'll see a complete end to the exploitation of Great Apes as entertainers.

In the meantime, please do your part:
DON'T patronize companies who exploit animals to sell goods or services;
DO tell them why you won't be buying what they're selling;
DON'T attend circuses who use Great Apes or other performing animals;
DO tell your friends and family why they shouldn't attend either;
DON'T hesitate to applaud and support vendors and service providers whose marketing practices you agree with;
DO be loud and proud - the "Good Guys" need to know you care!

The Primate Rescue Center is honored to be one of five charities chosen for the Smiley Pete Publishing Annual Give Guide. Volunteers were encouraged to submit essays describing their experience and selected charities are featured in the Southsider and Chevy Chaser magazines on the stands now.

Ellen Furlong shared her story of the impact that volunteering at the PRC had on her life. When she began her service in her freshman year at Transylvania University, Ellen wanted to pursue a career working with animals but had no interest in being a vet. After her first visit to the PRC she was hooked. Now, ten years later, she is Dr. Ellen Furlong, and is studying primate cognition at Yale University.

The managing editor was so impressed with her story and the PRC that we are featured on the cover of the Southsider magazine. You can read the full article at Smiley Pete's Website.

Many thanks to Ellen and Smiley Pete Publishing for this wonderful article.