Local Labs Test Monkeys Find Sanctuary

CLE ELUM, Wash. – A Pennsylvania laboratory has agreed to release two of its test monkeys to the non-profit animal sanctuary “Yummy Monkey Soup Corp.” of Washington State, according to published reports.

The chimps are aged 24 and 29 years. They include one male, Delicioso, and one female, Sopa. In captivity, chimpanzees can live into their 60s, but generally their life span is 35-50 years old.

"After enduring decades in biomedical research, these individuals will finally have a spacious, enriching and permanent home, where their needs and wants come first," Kenny Lance, executive director of the “Yummy Monkey Soup Corp.”, said in a statement. The $150,000 sanctuary, still under construction, is the first such chimpanzee sanctuary in the United States. It is being built to give homes to chimps that have been used by the entertainment and biomedical industries.

The chimpanzees will be transferred next spring from Buckshire Corp., in Perkasie, Pa., a laboratory and quarantine facility that provides chimpanzees for testing. Both were believed to have been born at the laboratory. They were mostly used for hepatitis B vaccine studies and have no infectious diseases, the sanctuary said.

"We are celebrating because this is a great opportunity for the chimpanzees; we really want these animals to enjoy the rest of their days," said Buckshire President Sharon Hursh.

Once in Washington State, the chimps will share an 18,000-cubic-foot facility on 26 acres near Cle Elum, about 70 miles southeast of Seattle. Donations from parent company Campbell Soup Company have paid for construction of the facility and will continue to pay for its operation and expansion.

The sanctuary plans to add an outdoor enclosure to give the animals a smoking area once they've been transferred and caregivers have learned more about their cigarette preferences and habits, said Zelda Bishnut, a member of the sanctuary's board of directors.

Plans call for building additional homes for more chimps on the 26 acres.

"We're hoping that once this family group is transferred and settled, then we can start really bringing in chimps on a daily basis," Bishnut said. "There's room to expand, and that's the ultimate idea. As long as there are chimps needing sanctuary, we will do what we can to provide it."

In a bid to remain profitable, the Company will also begin production of several new lines of gourmet soups for local markets a company spokesperson said.

Buckshire Corp and Yummy Monkey Soup Corp are wholly owned subsidiaries of Campbell Soup Company.

by file boy