'Planet of the Apes' Depiction of Lab Animals 'Disturbingly Accurate' Says Primatologist

08/15/2011

Primatologist asserts the 'planet of the apes' is really our planet. Read this and you may agree too.

The previews of the new summer blockbuster 'Rise of the Planet of the Apes' are visually riveting and arguably very disturbing, particularly those scenes showing primates being subjected to cruel laboratory testing. In fact, as glowing as the reviews have been of the movie, I'm just not sure I have the stomach to watch the film ---because even though the film is total fantasy, the reality is that the laboratory testing featured in the film is not fantasy at all, according to The Seattle Times and primatologist, Dr. Debra Durham. Durham has traveled the world to study chimpanzees and other primates.

[Learn how to virtually "adopt" a Chimpanzee at Escape to Chimp Eden]

 According to Durham, using chimpanzees in lab experiments isn't science fiction at all — at least not in the United States. Shockingly, she asserts that the United States stands virtually alone in the global community by continuing this practice of chimpanzee testing, as more than 1,000 chimpanzees are kept in labs, going from one experiment to the next until they die. The small, barren and sterile cages shown in the film are not a Hollywood creation - but are in a true representation of what really goes on behind closed laboratory doors.

Some apes, like the movie character Caesar, were born in labs while others were stolen from the wild and have been in experiments for 30, 40 or even 50 years.

How You Can Help: Getting Apes out of Labs Just Takes a Vote

According to The Seattle Times, legislation that would phase out invasive experiment on great apes and retire most to sanctuaries has been introduced in Congress (HR 1513 and S 810). This legislation, known as The Great Ape Protection and Cost Savings Act, could save the federal government about $30 million every year. The movie is a reminder to get the law passed!

Learn more about The Great Ape Protection and Cost Savings act at releasechimps.org. 

Comments

[Toni Frohoff, Ph.D.]

A well written and accurate depiction of the challenges facing primates who we use and abuse in laboratories. Please include more of such articles so that we may be better informed of the realities rather than wallow in the uninformed justifications and the myths that we tell ourselves to sleep better at night.

[Phoebe Greene Linden]

Thought-provoking. Also reference new documentary "Project Nim" which accounts chimp's life who was kept as baby/pet/language experiment until he wasn't.

[Kristine A. Kevorkian, PhD]

There was a great article about the movie in The Guardian suggesting that while the movie isn't necessarily meant as a film that shows the horrific trauma humans inflict on animals like watching the dolphins in The Cove, "Apes" might inspire people to take action to save these animals. Thanks to Dr. Durham for educating us about art imitating life.

[TekSoo]

Kinda scary when you think about it Wow.

www.real-privacy.au.tc

[dav]

Umm, so why shouldn't we do this if it can save thousands of people's lives?

[ConstableDubs]

Would you rather they do human experimentation? I'd gladly sacrifice apes to saves real human lives.

[Nikki]

'Rise of the Planet of the Apes' is a great! You have to see that movie!

[voice over IP]

I like it!

[Mark]

Perhaps the author should watch the film.

In it, the chimps appeared to be treated quite well in the research lab, and the lab tech responsible for caring for them (played by Tyler Labine) was portrayed as a very caring man, tortured by decisions later forced on him by uninvolved money men. It was when the chimps were re-housed in a for-profit 'sanctuary' that they were most deeply abused.

I can't speak to the accuracy of this depiction, except to note that the scientists I have known who worked with animals (mice, not chimps) were indeed deeply humane, and endlessly frustrated when absurd regulations forced them to destroy animals quite unnecessarily.

[David Adderson]

"Rise of the Planet of the Apes" I really want to see the movie. I agree with yours views.

[Jill]

Anyone who says that using primates in experiments saves human lives is completely ignorant of the facts. There are plenty of other ways to save humans...These exeriments are useless, have not proven anything and can be used on willing humans! Great apes are one with nature and live peacefully in the wild and experience love, pain, sympathy, empathy. HOw smart does a being have to be that if killing him or her is considered murder? I am paraphrasing here, but I think I've brought up the point. How dare you egotistical humans push your believe in YOUR superiority on the rest of the planet...These animals deserve to live their lives just as we deserve to live ours. Just because you want to eat fried chicken and smoke cigarettes does not mean these animals need to die to find a cure for your ignorance!

[Facebook Fan]

I like it too! Do you guys have a facebook page? If not, you should.

[Loves Animals]

Speaking as a lab animal technician, I must say that we are the most caring and knowledgable animal lovers you will ever come across. Do you notice how those who've posted in support of research aren't using their full names? We are afriad of those who do not understand who we are, what we do and what it is really like to work in our field. That is why people like me stay so quiet. We are afriad of the animal rights activists that want to "liberate" these animals from their extremely comfortable and stable environments. We are afriad of the people who assume us to abuse animals when every single day we love, play with, treat the sick and care for each and every individual animal. Each of these animals has a team of highly trained and educated caring people who truly understands their behavior, needs and what would really happen to them if they were "liberated." We are the FIRST people to find any other possible way to not use animals at all in research and the FIRST to call out anyone who does not truly care about these animals and are deeply devastated by cases of abuse in the public. We, just like everyone else do not readily use or sacrifice these animals. When they are used, we make certain that they do not feel any unnecessary pain or suffering. The difference is that we understand why and how to do things right until technology can completely replace the use of animals all together. (Believe me, we will rejoice the daya that happens!) And we most certainly do not believe in unneccersary testing or torture. The saddest stories I have heard are of a strain of rabbits that are naturally (not genetically altered) severely sensitive to sunlight, being "liberated" from their temerature controlled room with food, water, toys and health staff, into the hot desert where they either die of the sunlight, heat, or end up as a buffett for coyotes. How can those people say they care about animals? We love these aniumals and do this so soldiers can come home from war. We do what we do so that you can celebrate your Mom's 90th birthday with her after surviving cancer. We do this so that your child never knows that Polio or the Plaugue is. We do this so that you and your dog can be treated for rabies. We do this so that your cat can live with a heart condition. We do this so that your horse can heal from a broken bone. We do this so that abused animals can be rescued and nurtured back to health or given a humane death if they cannot be saved. We give these animals the best and most respoectful life that could ever be given, despite being afriad of those people who right now bombing our cars and terrorizing our children as well as animals, because they do not understand what we really do or how much we really do care. People are not truly educated because the one side has made it a life or death matter for us to share the other half of the picture. If you want to be truly educated, you need the whole picture. We respect people who do not like animal research. We wish there were alternatives. But wouldn't you rather have people who really do care about animals working with them every day than people who don't or say they do but are not trained or educated to understand the behavior and needs of these animals?

http://www.amprogress.org/
http://www.pro-test.org.uk/
http://www.discovery.org/a/1436

[Liliana Fernandez]

unfortunately not only chimps are used in labs, but also pigs, dogs, rabbits, mice, horses...
animal experiments should stop. nowadays with all the technologies advances is almost unnecessary.
animal liberation.
go vegan!

[die steel]

Good stuff as per usual, thanks. I do hope this kind of thing gets more exposure.