A woman's effort to retire 142 Air Force "astrochimps" from research into AIDS and other diseases has gotten a $1 million boost.
Officials from the American Anti-Vivisection Society recently announced that they would donate the money to the Center for Captive Chimpanzee Care, headed by biological anthropologist Carole Noon in Boynton Beach, Fla.
"It brings us up over the laugh level," Noon said. "It legitimizes us."
Her organization, which includes anthropologist Jane Goodall, is trying to raise $14 million to buy land and build a sanctuary to observe and monitor the chimps. Before the $1 million, her fledgling effort had attracted about $150,000, she said.
The chimpanzees are survivors and descendants of 65 chimps used in the 1950s for space research. The two who traveled in space, Ham and Enos, have long since died. Minnie, who trained as the back-up to Ham and Enos, died last month.
The Air Force is leasing the chimps to a New Mexico research facility but will give them away in 1999.
Air Force officials will consider the chimps' welfare when deciding in June where to place them. Noon says her group needs $3 million to show the Air Force it is legitimate.
Pub Date: 4/13/98
