PETA Statement: Project Chimps

For Immediate Release:
July 31, 2020

Contact:
Tasgola Bruner 202-483-7382

Please see the following statement about Project Chimps from PETA Senior Vice President Kathy Guillermo:

In early 2020, PETA was contacted by individuals connected with Project Chimps, who alleged multiple, serious animal care issues at the sanctuary. Because the allegations, accompanied by photos, appeared credible, PETA immediately contacted the sanctuary’s board of directors, which responded that the allegations were without merit. Over the next few weeks, numerous sanctuary employees, former employees, and volunteers came forward with similar concerns. PETA then contacted the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS), which had accredited the sanctuary. GFAS conducted its own investigation. While GFAS did not release its findings to PETA, Project Chimps has publicly acknowledged that GFAS made several recommendations for improving conditions and care, which Project Chimps claims to be implementing. Whistleblowers are essential to the work of all organizations and government agencies dedicated to ending abuse, and their rights must be protected.

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to experiment on”—opposes speciesism, a human-supremacist worldview. For more information, please visit PETA.org.