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Essay / Cwu and the issue of chimpanzee captivity
Animal captivity has been controversial due to ethical concerns. Primates are often candidates for animal testing because of their similarity to humans. For human reasons, these primates had to seek to readapt. At Central Washington University (CWU), there have been two different chimpanzee facilities. First, there was the Chimpanzee and Humans Communication Institute (CHCI), which for years has used primates specifically for research and education purposes. Over time, this institute ended and the Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest (CSNW) took in chimpanzees in 2008. By unraveling and piecing together the details of CWU's chimpanzee facilities, we can determine whether animal captivity is ethical. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay The Chimpanzee and Humans Communication Institute (CHCI) was located on the CWU campus. The primates acquired by the institute were “fed by humans” (Tweed 42). They conducted research on American Sign Language between humans and chimpanzees. They learned this communication skill from “their human caregivers.” They studied their behavior and studied how these primates interact with each other. In 1981, they housed five chimpanzees who served as research subjects. CHCI was “designed to facilitate the captive care and research of chimpanzees in a non-invasive, caring, and humane manner” (Tweed 41). Dr. Mary Lee Jensvold defined CHCI as a blend of “breeding, science and a human approach.” The CHCI institute has shown positive qualities. First, a positive attribute was that students had “access to primates on the CHCI campus,” which “allowed students to learn both care techniques and research skills without having to leave the area.” . As a result, humans learned more about primates and how to study them adequately. Another positive attribute was that the dietary, social, and object use needs of these primates were adequately met. The chimpanzees were fed three meals a day and provided with objects and social enrichment (Fuentes et al. 224). “The chimpanzee facility consists of an outdoor enclosure, two indoor exercise rooms and a night enclosure...The enclosures are equipped with a variety of structural enrichment features” (ibid, 224). This primate institution would create scientific breakthroughs and knowledge about chimpanzees. Although there were positive attributes for the CHCI chimpanzees, there were also negative attributes. A negative attribute of CHCI was that the largest number of primates that this institution contained was five chimpanzees (Matarese 2013, 3). “In captivity, it is important that these primate species are housed with their conspecifics and that the group size is representative of what it might be in the wild” (Tweed 8). These chimpanzees were also designed to be the subject of behavioral research projects. For example, in a small group of chimpanzees at CHCI, they recorded conflict and post-conflict behaviors. They collected data for over 6 weeks to measure the primates' behavior patterns before and after the conflict. The primary purpose of CHCI was for education and research purposes. “CHCI was built expressly for the purpose of housing educational programs in addition to conducting important research” (Tweed 46). These negative impacts would soon worsen, creating what would soon be the end of CHCI. GOODAlthough the CHCI was an important part of the CWU, it ultimately had to be discontinued in 2013 (Tweed 2). When “Dar,” one of the CWU chimpanzees, died, it posed a population problem at CHCI. This death “reduced the population to two”. This is problematic because they live in a group of 100 or more chimpanzees in the wild. At the institute's peak, completed in 1993, they housed five chimpanzees. Chimpanzees living among a small group is not a true representation of their natural habitat. When in a small group or isolated, primates tend to display "self-injurious behaviors, and even signs of depression." Dar's death sparked a conflict where the only option was the decision between acquiring more primates for the institute or having to relocate the primates (Matarrese 4). Unfortunately, it was too difficult to find new primates, so the CWU had to send their primates to the Fauna Foundation sanctuary in Canada. After this unfortunate result, a new habitat for the chimpanzees would emerge. In 2008, the North West Chimpanzee Sanctuary (CSNW) became home to seven chimpanzees. CSNW is located in Cle Elum Washington. One of CSNW's goals "is to provide these animals with a high level of care that facilitates an enriched and fulfilling life in captivity that they may not have had in their previous situation." “Educational outreach” was another goal of this sanctuary. This goal was to provide a place where students or civilians could learn about these primates remotely. The primates housed at CSNW had an unfortunate past. At CSNW, “these seven chimpanzees have devoted nearly three decades to biomedical research. They belonged to a biomedical research laboratory in Pennsylvania that rented the chimpanzees to other research facilities” where they were housed separately and vaccinated by scientists (Tweed 1). This was so that we humans could make scientific breakthroughs in biomedical research. “These chimpanzees were subjected to daily blood tests, injections, liver biopsies and other procedures.” They too were raised and mothers were “forced to have babies...abducted...at birth.” They were eventually retired and released to CSNW, where the rehabilitation of these primates is an important goal. “Primates became popular subjects in the 1950s, when the search for a polio vaccine became urgent.” Primates became the ideal test subject “because of their similarity to humans.” These chimpanzees are released at the sanctuary. These chimpanzees "still require intensive care and monitoring before, during and after their release to ensure that they are not carrying or spreading diseases that they may have contracted in captivity, or because they are more susceptible to disease due to their experience in captivity.” They also struggle with ongoing behavioral problems that arise as a result of the treatment they received. These laboratories cause negative behavioral problems and harm the well-being of primates (Zhang 1). When a young primate is separated from its parent, it can already begin to develop problems at a young age. This circumstance causes “total isolation” of the newborn because it is left alone in a cage without any contact with its mother and other primates. This isolation causes "abnormal postures and movements...motivational disturbances, such as excessive fear or excitement...poor integration of motor patterns, such as inappropriate sexual behavior...deficiencies in social communication, such as the inability to withdrawafter being threatened. by an attacking animal. Therefore, laboratories taking these primates away from their mothers can create significant isolation and resulting consequences. Although these primates now exhibited numerical problems before, their new living conditions are very different. The CSNW is run by staff and CWU student volunteers or interns who help around the sanctuary (Tweed 107). The biggest task of this sanctuary is to manage the “quality of life” of the chimpanzees and to ensure that their staff intensively monitor these primates. They also receive essential products, for example to meet their “nutritional, physical, mental and environmental needs”. These chimpanzees are also housed so that they can interact socially with each other. Caregivers also “walk with them when they want…and do not intrude on their social activities with each other.” It is also important for them to provide a space where these primates have an indoor enclosure and an outdoor enclosure. Animal welfare is an important aspect of a sanctuary because it “determines and is directly linked to funding, donor relations, staff and volunteers, and the daily operations of the sanctuary.” Overall, this CSNW is well managed, but it also has some positive attributes. First, one of the positive aspects of the CSNW is that it “engages in educational activities without compromising the well-being of residents” (Tweed iii). This provides insight into the welfare or humane treatment of chimpanzees. Students also benefit from the sanctuary by enjoying the benefits of learning about primates from a distance. These chimpanzees, as previously stated, are housed in an indoor enclosure as well as an outdoor habitat. This sanctuary, as previously noted, also prevents the spread of disease by keeping primates in the Pacific Northwest. Indeed, they ensure the well-being of animals susceptible to contracting the disease and the health of primates from biomedical laboratories. Another positive aspect is that human caregivers can also interact with the chimpanzees for stimulation and engagement. Tweed states that sanctuary can be defined as “a place of refuge and protection.” The “nutritional, physical, mental and environmental needs” of these primates are also met. These chimpanzees “have more space, more action, and they have had time to overcome certain traumas from their past”. These Primates also addressed issues regarding CSNW. Unfortunately, CSNW also has flaws. The CSNW is home to seven chimpanzees. As noted above, chimpanzees typically live in a social group of more than 100 primates. “Captive animals…do not experience a full range of social interactions as they would in the wild” (Tweed 9). Another negative aspect of CSNW is that it conducts research on these primates, which it was not originally intended to do, but the research is strictly observational. Although the research may be imperfect, the research these primates undergo at CSNW is “non-invasive.” An example of this research involves evaluating “the effects of groups of visitors on individual chimpanzees.” Thanks to what has been said about CHCI and CSNW, we can determine whether it was ethical to confine these primates. When we compare CHCI and CSNW, we can determine that they are slightly similar but have a huge factor of difference. These similarities include housing a small number of chimpanzees, providing indoor and outdoor space for chimpanzees, educational action5368383/.