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Research chimps age with dignity
Years ago I lived a long time in a populous third-world country. I remember saying to a friend living in the U.S. that a focus on animal rights seemed a distraction in view of human living conditions around the globe. She gave me a look I can still see to this day and have thought about many times since. "Why are we more important than every other living species?" and "What would our lives be like without other species?" she could have asked. There is no doubt in my mind that we must be more mindful of species living on the planet around us and treat each with great care and respect. That is also the theme of this fine documentary about research chimps living out their final days on a farm in Canada. Westoll was a scientist first, but changed his focus to writing later in his career. He urges us to look at the evidence and acknowledge that we have a duty to restrict testing of animals in the name of science. And he urges us to insist Congress pass the Great Ape Protection Act (GAPA) which has been on the roster for discussion and passage for years now. Once again we lag behind other Western nations who long ago restricted the use of primates for research. Apparently studies using primates have determined that primates are sufficiently different from humans as not to be of great use in providing useful information for medical use. But the studies continue, Westoll suggests, perhaps because they are so lucrative to the grantees receiving federal monies. In the meantime, social animals of great intelligence and emotional range are subjected to lives of captivity, and the cruelties of isolation, are introduced to disease and treated with disregard. This story tells us mostly of what it is like to lives with the animals now, their research days behind them (several were smuggled out of research facilities by sympathetic caregiver scientists). One is struck anew how little we know, and how barbaric we seem. Surely the rights demanded by groups of the disenfranchized over the years should have taught us how cruel and thoughtless we seemed before finally recognizing the rights of different groups (the poor, women, blacks). This is not a screed, nor a diatribe. It is a man reflecting on meeting some unusual characters who have a history, and with our help, a future.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous
Posted February 23, 2013
Lets have sex
?..
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Anonymous
Posted January 19, 2012
Amazing
A must read for everyone
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Anonymous
Posted December 2, 2011
Wow
The best nonfiction I have read. You laugh and cry and feel like you know the chimps by the end. A must-read.
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AnimaloverJT
Posted September 20, 2011
A must read!!!!!!!
It will take your heart apart piece by piece but is a must read for everyone who loves animals. I simply just couldn't put it down.
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Anonymous
Posted July 19, 2011
One of the best non-fiction books I have ever read!
I have read a lot of different non-fiction animal books and this is absolutely one of the best! Andrew Westoll is an excellent writer and really keeps your interest! This book is not at all dry like some non-fiction books can be. This story is truly amazing! This should be required reading. It would be impossible to not be changed after reading this book.
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Full of Heartbreak and Hope
Andrew Westoll takes us inside a chimpanzee sanctuary, where he spends months getting to know those who live there. Many of these chimps were rescued from biomedical research labs. The abuse they suffered is heartbreaking. Their resilience and willingness to forgive humans is astounding. No matter which side of the fence you're on with animal research, this is a must read.
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** I received this ebook as an advanced readers copy from the publisher Houghton Mifflin Harcourt through NetGalley. ** -
Anonymous
Posted October 5, 2011
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Posted April 30, 2012
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Posted June 22, 2011
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