Finding new homes for ex-laboratory and surplus zoo primates (2006)

Prescott, M. J.

Abstract

Every year around 65,000 primates are used in European and U.S. laboratories, mainly for pharmaceutical safety and efficacy evaluation and research in the fields of microbiology, neuroscience, and biochemistry/chemistry (Carlsson et al., 2004; European Commission, 2005; United States Department of Agriculture, 2004). The majority of these animals are euthanized as an integral part of the experimental procedures. In situations where this is not required, or in the case of former breeding or surplus stock animals, it may be possible to rehome the animals as an alternative. .. Rehoming and relocating primates is not something that can be done lightly, both because of the nature of the animals and because of the need to find facilities that can properly accommodate and look after them in the long term. Careful and timely planning of the whole process is critically important (Brent, 2004; Seelig & Truitt, 1999). Any organization setting out to rehome animals should, therefore, have a clearly defined and documented procedure in place which enables all issues relating to animal welfare, health, and safety, the prospective owner, and any participating organizations, to be addressed.