13 hours Ago
South Carolina news has been circling the globe recently: On Nov. 6, 43 primates escaped from the Alpha Genesis Primate Research Center in Yemassee. As of Tuesday, 39 of the escaped monkeys had been recaptured.
The research center's website says it conducts "research projects for government, university, and private industry clients with cynomolgus, rhesus, and capuchin monkeys.” About 4,000 monkeys are at the main facility, and roughly 3,000 are at a second facility nearby. The ongoing story of escaped primates sheds much-needed light upon man's continuing inhumanity and the abuse of animals.
Animals are sentient beings. Have we forgotten the work of primatologist and anthropologist Jane Goodall? Primates have a high level of intelligence; they understand language and can communicate. They remember us.
In return, we continue to harm them, conduct experiments upon them, give them diseases, imprison them and cause immeasurable physical and emotional pain. I know that I am not the only person who was rooting for the monkeys that escaped and hoping that if captured they would be sent to Born Free USA primate sanctuary in Texas, where CEO Angela Grimes offered to take the monkeys that experienced a taste of freedom. I am not fooled by Alpha Genesis CEO Greg Westergaard trying to placate the public by telling us that the recaptured monkeys were enjoying peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
He has also said that the monkeys received “no ill effects from their adventure.” Of course not — the ill effects happen inside Alpha Genesis, not in nature. U.
S. Rep. Nancy Mace is taking action to address past and current mistreatment of the animals at Alpha Genesis that has resulted in citations and violations spanning years.
As she wrote to animal welfare officials at the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, "While in the care of Alpha Genesis, monkeys have frozen to death, died of dehydration, and been killed by other distressed primates.
” However, the CEO of Alpha Genesis said Rep. Mace is committed to supporting Alpha Genesis for its economic contribution to the Lowcountry. Alpha Genesis is but one facility now in public discussion.
Imagine the abuse occurring in other animal research centers in our nation also funded by our tax dollars. Another news story that pulled at our heartstrings was the primate caged for 28 years at a medical research lab in New York and California who, in indescribable awe and joy, first saw the sky when it was sent to a sanctuary in Florida. Animal research and testing is barbaric and unconscionable.
As a nation, we love our pets. I know that I do. How many rabbits need to have shampoo poured into their eyes and made blind to prove that it is an irritant to humans? Dogs would give their lives for us, but they are not spared animal testing.
Beagle pups in particular are widely used in labs. It takes one moment to check the label for “No Animal Testing.” Or to look for the “cruelty free” bunny logo.
And to refuse to purchase products without those labels. I fully understand the need for safe and proven pharmaceuticals and medical treatments. The polio vaccine and the COVID vaccine were tested on animals.
However, there are other options, including volunteering for medical research, which I have done. Torturing God’s innocent creatures to fuel a multibillion-dollar industry should not be one of our options. We can also support wildlife sanctuaries, animal welfare groups and animal societies to join the fight in protecting the vulnerable, abused and mistreated creatures of the world.
Jackie Morfesis of Charleston is a writer, speaker and community advocate..
