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Stop Animal Exploitation NOW!
S. A. E. N.
"Exposing the truth to wipe out animal experimentation"

Press Releases

 Research Watchdog Releases “Inside Report” on Primate Center; Demands Tour of Lab Inspection of Records

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, February 23, 2007
Contact:   Michael Budkie, SAEN, 513-575-5517; 513-703-9865 (cell) 
 
ATTN: Assignment Desk


Portland, OR - A national research watchdog organization has announced the release of an internal government report from the Oregon Primate Research Center (OPRC), which reveals the deaths of 463 primates (12.4%) in one year.

 

“All is not well at the Oregon Primate Research Center,” said Michael A. Budkie, A.H.T., SAEN’s Executive Director.  “This facility has a high death rate, and there are clear indications of severe stress in the primate population.”

 

SAEN is releasing the recently-obtained OPRC Annual Progress Report, a 284 page government document filed annually with the National Institutes of Health.  Copies are available upon request.

 

Key Statistics from the report:

 

Ø 463 primate deaths in one year

 

Ø 160 clinical cases (illnesses/injuries) per day

 

Ø 115 primates with abnormal behavior (open cases) out of 700 assessed (16.4%)

 

Ø 2284 (potentially 65% of center animals) cases of wound management

 

Ø 1400 (potentially 40% of center animals) incidents of bandaging

 

Ø OPRC is connected to over $155 million per year in federal funding for primate experiments (but apparently still can’t afford social housing for 41% of the caged primates)

 

Ø The report also discloses OPRC efforts to stifle media coverage of animal rights activities.

 

 “The information contained in this report clearly indicates that primates at OPRC are highly stressed, chronically ill animals,” added Budkie.  “This year-long data discloses troubling long-term patterns, and must be addressed.”

 

OPRC Director, M. Susan Smith, Ph.D., has been contacted to request a tour of the center’s facilities, as well as access to primate health care records, and a meeting of the OPRC Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee based on Oregon public access laws.

 

“It’s time for the Primate Center to either put up or shut up,” added Budkie.  “If they have nothing to hide, then a tour should be no problem.”

 

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