Primate Rescue Center

It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that we share with you the passing of our dear Suzie.

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Stop by Joseph-Beth Booksellers on Wednesday, December 1 and our staff and volunteers will wrap up your Joseph-Beth purchases just in time for the Holidays.

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By now we've all had a chance to reflect on the carnage in Zanesville, OH - even as more gruesome details continue to be revealed. While much ink is being given to the debate over the actions taken by the Sheriff's Department, the real question we should be asking is: Despite over 30 complaints reported in the last 5 years, why were local authorities powerless to take action in this situation?

After a kangaroo attacked and severely injured 80-year-old John Kokas at Kokas Exotics Animal Farm in Green Camp, OH on September 20, 2011, The Zanesville Times-Recorder reported that Sen. Dave Burke, R-Marysville (representing Ohio's 26th District), ODNR, zookeepers and other interested parties are working on statewide legislation to address incidents like the attack in Green Camp. "There is a problem. We want to make sure this doesn't happen again," Burke said.

Chad Grody, the Marion County wildlife officer, said ODNR has no regulatory authority over non-native animals. "We regulate the fish and wildlife native to Ohio. The Ohio Division of Wildlife does not license exotic animals." The kangaroo was euthanized.

This preventable tragedy reinforces what we’ve been saying for over two decades: Wild animals are simply not pets, and do not belong in the hands of those ill-equipped and unprepared to care for them. Absent common sense on this issue, stronger state legislation is needed - and now!

Although the Executive Order just signed by Governor John Kasich is a logical first step - until and unless the Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of WIldlife is actually given regulatory authority over non-native animals, the lucrative trade in and collecting of inherently dangerous animals in Ohio is free to continue - with no oversight. According to USDA records, the State of Ohio is home to 236 licensed Class A Breeders, Class B Dealers & Class C Exhibitors. Our best guess is that there are at least another 500+ unlicensed owners of exotic "pets" in Ohio, but since no licensure is required for private owners like Terry Thompson, no one really knows.

How many more injuries, escapes, mauling and deaths are the citizens of Ohio willing to endure?
Let Governor John Kasich know how you feel about this issue.

STOP THE MADNESS NOW!

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.

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Comic legend, Stan “The Man” Lee, and Emmy award winning artist, Dean Haspiel, created Even Gorillas Have Pride! to help the Panels for Primates comic anthology end with a bang! The Primate Rescue Center has been incredibly fortunate to be part of such a great endeavor. Troy Wilson has done an amazing job and helped the PRC reach a whole new audience. We were left speechless and beyond honored when Stan Lee and Dean Haspiel created the last comic for this anthology.

Stan "The Man" Lee has created or co-created 90 percent of Marvel's most recognized characters, which have been successfully licensed and marketed since 1965. His famous co-creations include Spider-Man, The Incredible Hulk, X-Men, The Fantastic Four, Thor, and Iron Man, among many others. Lee, first became publisher of Marvel Comics in 1972, and is presently the Chairman Emeritus of Marvel Enterprises, Inc. Lee is also the Founder, Chairman, and Chief Creative Officer of POW! Entertainment.

Emmy award winning artist, Dean Haspiel, created the Eisner award nominated BILLY DOGMA and the semi-autobiographical, STREET CODE. Dean has drawn many great superhero and semi-autobiographical comic books for major publishers and illustrates for HBO's "Bored To Death."

Since the first comic strip in October 2010, 56 generous creators from seven countries have donated 127 pages of all new material.The awareness this campaign created is invaluable. You can view all of the comics at act-i-vate.com.

Many thanks again to Troy Wilson and all of the artists who made this possible.

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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!

Caring for primates in the sanctuary setting is full of highs and lows. We rejoice when an introduction is successful - when formerly isolated pets find companionship and flourish under our care. The staff and volunteers at the PRC form very close and special bonds with the primates they care for and work tirelessly to provide the highest quality of care at all stages of our primates’ lives.

Unfortunately, working with living creatures means we also must deal with our grief when one of our friends passes away. Unlike domesticated pets, even critically ill primates often will not tolerate frequent injections, IV lines, and other stressful – but lifesaving - treatments. However, we do have the ability to make their final days with us as enriching, loving, and fulfilling as possible.

We were devastated to learn recently that Booger, one of our beloved spider monkeys, is in the final stages of kidney failure. Since receiving this sad news, the PRC staff has moved him to the main building where we can shower him with love, attention, and all the tasty treats he wants. He seems to be enjoying the extra special care and squeals with happiness whenever someone walks into the room. We can sense that he knows just how special he is to all of us.



Booger has lived at the Primate Rescue Center for 17 years, spending his days with fellow spider monkeys Bisou, Chester and Dehlia. He has an unforgettable personality and always brings a smile to the face of anyone who meets him. Booger loves to sit in the sun and groom his buddies, run down the length of his cage to chase the golf cart, and bounce up and down on a squeaky toy while chirping and whistling for attention. Booger is known for his unmistakable squeals of joy, his round little potbelly, and his kind face. He also has strikingly beautiful stormy eyes that are an unusual deep grayish blue color.

Booger will always hold a very special place in our hearts. We cherish his final days with us, and feel fortunate each morning when we hear his friendly whistling greeting and get to spoil him just a little while longer.