Target: Jayanta “Jay” Bhattacharya, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the National Institutes of Health
Goal: Stop funding for research center after alleged whistleblower revelations of monkeys subjected to extreme neglect and invasive experiments.
The New Iberia Research Center, the largest primate testing facility in the United States, is reportedly a site of horrifying abuse and gross negligence toward primates. Whistleblower footage has emerged seemingly showing monkeys, including rhesus and long-tailed macaques, confined in squalid conditions where feces, urine, and rotting food accumulate beneath them, leading to severe chronic stress and injuries. These animals, allegedly often housed in cages barely large enough for them, endure unspeakable suffering, including severe skin conditions and forced breeding setups where they have no choice or escape.
Reports indicate that animals within the facility are subjected to countless invasive procedures for experiments funded by U.S. taxpayers. Monkeys allegedly are infected with viruses, endure traumatic cycles of anesthesia, and are subjected to painful tissue biopsies in highly sensitive areas. In one instance, experimenters reportedly injected substances into their bodies in extreme and invasive ways, leading to unnecessary pain before they are killed and dissected. Alarmingly, the New Iberia Research Center has been cited for multiple violations of the Animal Welfare Act.
The allegations against this facility are deeply troubling and highlight a clear and urgent need for action. It is imperative that funding from the National Institutes of Health be terminated to prevent further taxpayer money from supporting these heinous practices. The demand is to stop funding for the New Iberia Research Center and hold accountable those responsible for the animal mistreatment and violations of ethical standards.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Dr. Bhattacharya,
The New Iberia Research Center’s treatment of primates requires immediate scrutiny and decisive action. Recently released whistleblower footage seemingly depicts animals confined in filthy, cramped conditions characterized by feces-stained cages and barren environments that indicate severe neglect and stress. This is particularly egregious as many of these animals, such as rhesus macaques and African green monkeys, appear to be suffering from chronic health issues, including prominent injuries and unsolved severe skin conditions.
Moreover, this facility reportedly engages in barbaric experimental procedures, subjecting monkeys to infections with viruses and invasive surgeries without any oversight. Taxpayer funding continues to support an institution where lives are reportedly cut short due to poor care and neglect, with numerous violations of the Animal Welfare Act documented. Cases of apparent negligence, including animals left outside in extreme temperatures and infants succumbing to dehydration, underscore the dire urgency of this matter.
There is a clear need for immediate action: the National Institutes of Health must stop funding the New Iberia Research Center. Continually allowing funds to support this facility equates to condoning the inhumane treatment of these animals.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Pixabay
