The University of Louisiana at New Iberia Primate Research Story

[cjntgr]

Their true agenda is not to have these monkeys treated correctly. What they want is for us to close down the facility. They released this video to get the publics attention and support and will eventually rally to get the research center closed.

[Hammer58]

_
... I know there was a stink about sedating some of the monkeys with a dart gun, but that was a big ass monkey, and I sure as heck wouldn't want to walk up to it and ask if I could stick a needle in it. However, if they were doing it for reasons other than out of necessity...

Like you, I know little about this facility or how they should be handled. But after the recent story of the chimp that attacked that woman and caused severe njury to her I don't think I would get close when an injection was called for either.

[RaginFan]

_ Their true agenda is not to have these monkeys treated correctly. What they want is for us to close down the facility. They released this video to get the publics attention and support and will eventually rally to get the research center closed. _

BINGO!

[4LSU]

_ Like you, I know little about this facility or how they should be handled. But after the recent story of the chimp that attacked that woman and caused severe njury to her I don't think I would get close when an injection was called for either. _

I'm no expert on primate care or medical research needs, but I do know a tad bout animals and some of those displayed in the cam shots appeared to be in a high state of fear/emotional distress.

I know we need to do what we need to do to fight disease or whatever, but some of those animals appeared to be in a very bad way and I can't see where that helps anyone or why some have to live in that state for as long as it seems they have been.

[CajunFun]

I wrote an analysis of the Nightline story on ultoday.com. I thought it might be worth a new thread...

[BeauCajun]

_ I wrote an analysis of the Nightline story on ultoday.com. I thought it might be worth a new thread... _

Nice article Doc. Them damn tree hugging nature freaks who never get out of their offices or houses.

[Boomer]

_ I always find it funny that we butcher and eat some animals without a second though while we have to treat other animals like we would treat a human being. _

I have never eaten monkey, but have tasted coon rabbit squirrel etc. all seem pretty good to me!!!!!

[CajunFun]

_ Nice article Doc. Them damn tree hugging nature freaks who never get out of their offices or houses. _

Well... *blush*... I'm a tree-hugging nature freak.

But I'm also clear that people come before animals. And I also support prudent hunting, because the alternative-- starvation-- is worse.

I love animals. But sometimes you just have to choose between the lesser of two evils.

[NewsCopy]

  More than $30 million in federally supported research is being conducted at New Iberia Research Center, according to information released by the University of Louisiana at Lafayette on Thursday.

The funds are National Institutes of Health contracts and grants active through 2012.

The UL primate research center has become the focus of the Humane Society of the United States’ campaign for federal legislation that will phase out the use of chimpanzees.

The center, in rural Iberia Parish just outside of New Iberia, is housed on 100 acres and is home to a third of the country’s 1,000 chimpanzees used for invasive research.

The rest of the story

By MARSHA SILLS
Advocate Acadiana bureau

[Frenchie35]

Leave 4LSU alone, he's falling in love.......

[NOCajun]

I know this much. If I'm Doc T-Joe, as soon as the USDA's investigation is over, WHEN the NIRC is cleared of any wrong-doing, I would immediately have a legal team persuing a lawsuit against the producer of that video and the LAZY BASTARDS at ABC for running that video without bothering to do any investigation of their own into its veracity!!!

[Just1More]

I am all for the humane treatment of animals. We are their keepers, but they are also here for our benefit. Someone ought to run a story right behind this that shows evidence of the advances in human health this research actually provides. The public, in general, is a bunch of stupid cattle. I could easily air a story about a little girl with an incuriable infectious disease that the whole of America would fall in love with (the girl... not the disease). If you showed how we advanced finding the cure (or prevention vehicle) by use of primates, everyone would understand the dilemma we are in. I've heard this BS about other forms of testing. If you listen to research scientists they'll tell you there is absolutely no substitute. Many other "advanced nations" avoid primate-based testing due to cost, not the evidence it has an equal.

Somewhere in the gang of protesters is someone who knows someone with HIV. If they comprehended the necessity of this kind of research to the prevention or cure, I think they might be a little less inclined to operate their kissing instrument on this subject.

You cannot cage a wild animal, and handle them, and not have some unpleasant video. This isn't a zoo where they are approximating the animals natural habitat for our "viewing pleasure" (a much more worthy cause?). These normally social animals have to be isolated for research purposes and with that comes high stress for the animal.

I am sorry, but this video presented no evidence that anyone was intentionally mistreating these animals (cannot tell if it breaks any rules, but didn't see that either). The situation sucks for these primates, but I have seen animal rescue groups use the same techniques for collaring, sedating and securing animals. Is their "cause" any more worthy?

We are about to live in an Oprah-run world my friends. Oh yea... we already are.