Chimps Inc.

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Chimps Inc.
Date opened1995[1]
LocationBend, Oregon, United States
Websitewww.chimps-inc.org

Chimps Inc. was a nonprofit animal sanctuary located at P-B Ranch near Bend, Oregon, United States. Faced with a history of safety and labor violations, it closed in 2019 and transferred its chimpanzees to Freedom for Great Apes, also in Bend.[2]

History

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Chimps Inc. was founded in 1995 by Lesley Day to house chimpanzees from the private or entertainment sectors in need of a new home. Although the sanctuary is primarily dedicated to furthering chimpanzee conservation, it also houses wild cats.

In 2007, Chimps Inc. was involved in a legal dispute over custody of two chimpanzees, Emma and Jackson, sparking debate on whether or not non-human primates have rights.[3][4] In 2008, Chimps Inc. was the beneficiary of the silent art auction that was a part of the 2008 Monkey Day celebration.[5][6] As of 2010, the sanctuary was home to seven chimpanzees and one Canadian lynx.[7]

In 2012, an intern was severely hurt by a chimp, but could not sue Chimps Inc. because of a waiver she had signed with the organization. The waiver also mentioned that only the managers of the ranch were allowed to call 911 for emergencies to avoid "any unnecessary scrutiny over safety concerns".[8] In 2017, after a chimpanzee accidentally escaped from its enclosure, an investigation was led by the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division. Many employees' testimonies underlined the management's lack of concern for safety. 30 incidents happened in the ranch since its opening in 1995. Even its founder, Lesley Day, has lost a finger to a chimp.[9] During the summer of 2018, some employees of the organizations were laid off. In February 2019, following a feud with the landlords of the ranch, Chimps Inc. announced it was moving the chimps to the behavioral research laboratory Ape Cognition and Conservation Initiative in Des Moines, Iowa.[10]

Description

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Chimps Inc. was located in a 5-acre ranch near Bend, Oregon.[9] Enid Chimp, of Eastbourne, England, donated 10% of her weekly state pension to Chimps Inc. and sold portrait paintings of Malcolm Zip by Barbara Haddock on Depop, with the proceeds going to Chimps Inc.

Jane Goodall was on the advisory board.[11]

The main fundraiser for the sanctuary was "the Civil War game", held in November at the P-B Ranch.[12]

References

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  1. ^ "Chimps Inc's Beginnings". chimps-inc.org. Chimps Inc. Archived from the original on 17 January 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  2. ^ "Chimps Inc. apes will remain in Tumalo". The Bend Bulletin. August 21, 2019. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  3. ^ Sen, Sanhita (2007). "Monkey See, Monkey Sue (for Legal Custody)". Newsweek. Retrieved 2010-02-17.
  4. ^ "Emotional Custody Battle Gets Hairy: Landmark Custody Ruling Involves The Legal Rights Of Two Chimps In Oregon". CBS Interactive Inc. 2008-01-01. Archived from the original on 2010-02-20. Retrieved 2010-02-17.
  5. ^ "Out On The Town". City Pulse. 8 (17): 36. 2008-12-10. Archived from the original on 2009-10-09. Retrieved 2010-02-18.
  6. ^ "Mountain High". Missoula Independent. 19 (50): 37. 2008-12-11.
  7. ^ "Chimps Inc". chimps-inc.org. Chimps Inc. Archived from the original on 22 July 2010. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
  8. ^ Thomas Boyd (10 January 2019). "Injured intern's suit against Chimps Inc. sanctuary in Central Oregon can't go forward, court says". Oregonlive.com. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  9. ^ a b Jane C. Hu (28 February 2018). "How Some U.S. Ape Sanctuaries Fail Their Animals and Staff". Nationalgeographic.com. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  10. ^ K.M. Collins (20 February 2020). "Chimp Controversy". Bendsource.com. Archived from the original on 29 November 2020. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  11. ^ "Our Board of Directors". chimps-inc.org. Chimps Inc. Archived from the original on 9 June 2010. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
  12. ^ "Annual Civil War Fundraiser". chimps-inc.org. Chimps Inc. Archived from the original on 25 October 2010. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
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