Aging chimps once used in vaccine research now get full health checkups in Liberia

Chimpanzees once used in U.S. hepatitis B vaccine research are receiving comprehensive medical examinations at the Second Chance Chimpanzee Refuge in Liberia. Veterinary teams are conducting exams under anesthesia that include dental checks, X-rays, blood tests, assessments of the heart, lungs and nervous system, booster vaccinations and nail trimming. More than 400 chimpanzees were used in Liberian experiments from the 1970s through the early 2000s, many after being captured as infants, and 60 survivors became the permanent responsibility of Humane World for Animals in 2015. The assessments are intended to identify illness early and create individualized care plans as the animals—now generally 30 to 35 years old—age, although the full long-term effects of their laboratory experiences remain under review. The chimpanzees live mainly on mangrove-covered islands and belong to a critically endangered West African population.