For Immediate Release
March 26, 2016
Animal Protection of New Mexico raises more than $45,000 to secure sanctuary for chimpanzees at the Chimpanzee Freedom Party
Santa Fe, N.M. – Animal advocates, state policymakers and community members gathered at Animal Protection of New Mexico’s (APNM) Santa Fe office to celebrate the forthcoming retirement to sanctuary of 19 NM chimpanzees currently held in lab settings. APNM proudly announces that the event helped to raise more than $45,000 for the Chimpanzee Sanctuary Fund, which will ensure the secure transport and long-term care of chimpanzees moving from confinement in labs to sanctuary.
“At sanctuary chimpanzees can finally live life like a chimpanzee, not an invasive test subject,” said Laura Bonar, chief program and policy officer for APNM. “We’re at a tipping point – the 19 chimps from New Mexico are the next in line to go to sanctuary. That means we will finally have more chimps in sanctuary than in labs. That’s a really big deal.”
Former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, state Senator Mary Jane Garcia, three-time NM land commissioner Ray Powell, Jr., and Bill Woldman, field representative for US Senator Tom Udall, joined more than 75 citizens to celebrate the National Institutes of Health’s monumental decision to free chimpanzees currently being held in research facilities. Guests enjoyed vegan banana splits, along with appetizers, cocktails and presentations on the past, present and future of chimpanzees used for research in New Mexico and beyond.
The following photos are from the March 26, 2016, event held by APNM at its Santa Fe office.
