Home » Bulletin 2002
Dutch parliament agrees to fund chimp rehoming
The Dutch Parliament has agreed to fund the construction of sanctuary facilities and pay for the lifetime care of 101 of the chimpanzees at the Biological Primate Research Centre at Rijswjk in the Netherlands. This follows the parliament's proposal, in April 2001, that all great ape research in the Netherlands should cease. The chimpanzees at Rijswjk are the last great apes to be used in research in Europe. The deal also includes a substantial increase in core funding for BPRC so it can start the building of new facilities to group-house all its animals.
Some of the chimpanzees are expected to be moved to the Stichting Aap sanctuary in 2003, to be homed in its Lifetime Care Centre currently being built near Alicante in Spain. The 23 chimps infected with immunodeficiency viruses or hepatitis virus during the course of research will be moved to a purpose built facility at this centre. The remaining 42 chimpanzees at BPRC will be moved to a number of zoos throughout Europe where they will become part of a programme aimed at maintaining the West African subspecies.
Dr Ronald Bontrop, the Director of BPRC, said, "I am very happy with this decision. The new financial input will allow the BPRC to focus more on animal welfare and the quality of its research. On top of that, the BPRC and Dutch government will take care that the BPRC chimpanzees will be outplaced to excellent facilities where they can enjoy their well-deserved retirement."