NPR
by

Too Frail To Retire? Humans Ponder The Fate Of Research Chimps

Chimps use sticks to poke into a mock termite mound to taste a sweet substance placed in the mound by keepers at Chimp Haven in Keithville, La. Today, caretakers say, more chimps in the U.S. live in accredited animal sanctuaries than in research facilities.

Lab chimps used in medical studies are being retired to a forested sanctuary. But scientists and workers who care for the animals say some older chimps aren’t healthy enough to make the transition.

(Image credit: Janet McConnaughey/AP)