Amy Fultz–a co-founder of Chimp Haven, the 200-acre Louisiana sanctuary for chimpanzees who had been used for biomedical research (and other purposes) before retiring to the facility–discusses the history of the facility, including the years of planning and research before they broke ground on the sanctuary. She also recounts her own history, growing up in Michigan, 
with a forest behind her house, and a longstanding interest in animals, veering academically from pre-med to behavioral work and a focus on primates. Fultz describes some of the day to day life of the chimps there, and that one surprising aspect of chimp behavior is that they laugh. She explained the impact of the National Institute of Health (NIH) decision to halt funding of research using chimpanzees–that 111 chimps from the New Iberia Research Center are gradually being relocated to Chimp Haven. Chimp Haven’s Behavior and Education Program Manager, Fultz has a particular expertise in introductions, and provides an overview of how she guides the introductions of New Iberia chimps to each other and to the chimps already living at Chimp Haven. And more…. (www.chimphaven.org/, www.facebook.com/pages/Chimp-Haven-Inc/35332221276)
with a forest behind her house, and a longstanding interest in animals, veering academically from pre-med to behavioral work and a focus on primates. Fultz describes some of the day to day life of the chimps there, and that one surprising aspect of chimp behavior is that they laugh. She explained the impact of the National Institute of Health (NIH) decision to halt funding of research using chimpanzees–that 111 chimps from the New Iberia Research Center are gradually being relocated to Chimp Haven. Chimp Haven’s Behavior and Education Program Manager, Fultz has a particular expertise in introductions, and provides an overview of how she guides the introductions of New Iberia chimps to each other and to the chimps already living at Chimp Haven. And more…. (www.chimphaven.org/, www.facebook.com/pages/Chimp-Haven-Inc/35332221276)
ALSO: We spoke briefly with Carole Baskin, founder and CEO of Tampa’s Big Cat Rescue, about the young woman who was killed by the lion at the facility in California, seeking to explore a larger, more philosophical view of the tragedy and its implications. (http://bigcatrescue.org/, www.facebook.com/bigcatrescue)
COMEDY CORNER: Karen Rontowski’s “Animals, Parents, Alligators” (portion) (http://karenrontowski.com/)
MUSIC: The James Hunter Six’s “Chicken Switch,” Soundtrack & Theme Orchestra’s “Theme From Planet Of The Apes,” instrumentals
