URGENT NEWS CONFERENCE ADVISORY
Monday, October 19, 2009
Contact: Michael Budkie, SAEN, 513 703 9865 (cell)
ATTN: Daybook/Assignment Desk
Louisiana New Iberia research lab charged in
a federal complaint with negligence, neglect leading to deaths of
primates
LAFAYETTE/NEW IBERIA, La. -- Two animals die every day here from
traumatic injuries or disease -- a level of neglect that has led the
University of Louisiana, New Iberia Research Center to be charged with
gross veterinary negligence and inadequate animal care in an official
complaint filed with the USDA demanding a federal investigation.
The complaint will be released at a NEWS CONFERENCE TUESDAY, October
20, at 10 a.m. at the Bayou Room of the Ramada Inn, Lafayette at 120 E.
Kaliste Saloom Rd.
Internal NIRC records obtained by SAEN, a national research watchdog
group that monitors labs like those at NIRC reveal that primates on the
campus of NIRC are suffering from serious, often undiagnosed illnesses.
In some instances the illnesses are discovered only when monkeys have
literally collapsed in their enclosures
The news conference will release the massive 61 page complaint
against the New Iberia Research Center which has already been the
subject of a Nightline expose' as recently as March of this year.
“It is clear that the staff (of NIRC) ignores illnesses in primates
allowing them to be diagnosed only when animals literally collapse, or
at death,” said Michael A. Budkie, A.H.T., Executive Director, SAEN.
“Our estimates indicate that approximately two primates die every day at
NIRC from disease or traumatic injuries.”
Other laboratories are also allowing monkeys to suffer due to escapes
and traumatic injuries. Official complaints against two other nationally
known labs will also be announced at the news conference.
All records will be available at the Tuesday news conference.
-30-
See also: University of Louisiana,
Lafayette, LA
Letter of Complaint to
USDA About New Iberia Research Center - 16 Oct 2009
Project 8735
2007-2008
- University of Louisiana, New Iberia Research Center
Monthly Reports -
2007 - University of Louisiana, New Iberia Research Center
