The Yerkes Primate Center, located at Emory University in Atlanta, Ga., has applied to the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) for authorization to conduct AIDS experiments on endangered mangabey monkeys currently housed in its primate colony.  The proposal also calls for permission to kill old and surplus animals.  Under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), facilities are prohibited from doing such research unless they obtain a special amended permit from the FWS – a waiver that would undermine the invaluable protections the ESA affords to animals in need and, to date, has never been granted.

The sooty mangabey (Cercocebus torquatus) is an extremely rare species of “old world” monkey found in West Africa and distributed from Guinea to Gabon.  In an effort to distract from the consequences of its unprecedented application, Yerkes has announced it would pay $30,000 per year to a mangabey study project located in the Ivory Coast’s Tai Forest.  Ironically, the project is being run by Dr. Scott McGraw, whose vita reveals an affiliation with The Yerkes Primate Center.
 
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
 
Please send letters to the FWS opposing application PRT-837068 (be sure to include the permit number) filed by the Yerkes National Primate Research Center to kill mangabeys in exchange for funding the Tai Forest study.  The comment period expires on June 17, so please contact the agency by mail or fax as soon possible. 
 
            US Fish and Wildlife Service
            Division of Management Authority
            RE: PRT-837068
            4401 North Fairfax Drive, Room 700
            Arlington, VA 22203
           
            Fax: 703-358-2281
 
Please share our "Dear Humanitarian" eAlert with family, friends and coworkers, and encourage them to send comments, too. Thank you so much for your help!
 
Sincerely,
Cathy Liss
Legislative Director