Freedom Awaits: The NIH Finally Approves Transfer of Alamogordo Chimpanzees to Sanctuary

The agency reversed its previous position, which would have kept the animals at the Alamogordo Primate Facility until the end of their lives. Now, the sanctuary—Chimp Haven—is working to bring the 23 individuals to Louisiana as quickly as possible.

For these chimpanzees, who endured years of invasive experiments in stressful conditions, this move marks a long-awaited and profound change. No longer confined to former laboratory cages, they will now have the space and freedom to explore, form social bonds, and live out their remaining years in an environment designed to meet their physical, mental, and emotional needs.

A Long Journey to Freedom

More than a decade ago, the Physicians Committee and other organizations worked tirelessly to end chimpanzee experimentation in the United States. We reached a major turning point in December 2011 when an Institute of Medicine report declared there was no area of biomedical or behavioral research for which chimpanzees were necessary. Eighteen months later, the NIH—which had for decades fought to keep our closest genetic relatives in labs—agreed to stop funding such research. Many chimpanzees held and previously used in federally funded laboratories slowly began to make their way to Chimp Haven and other sanctuaries. However, the NIH also stated in 2013 that it would retain a group of 50 chimpanzees for possible future use. That plan came to an end in 2015, when the agency finally agreed to end all funding of chimpanzee experiments.

The NIH and the Institute of Medicine announced what we had long known: chimpanzees were a poor “model” for human disease. Yet for decades, the federal government had funneled hundreds of millions of dollars into keeping these highly intelligent, social animals locked up in cages—some no bigger than an office desk. Chimpanzees were often subjected to dozens of painful biopsies and anesthetized using “knock downs,” in which a high-powered dart gun was fired from a distance. Many chimpanzees were repeatedly impregnated, and their offspring taken from them soon after birth for use in experiments.

For years, advocates have worked to convince the NIH to let the remaining Alamogordo chimpanzees move to sanctuary. While some did make it out, 23 remained, and a coalition of organizations had to fight to get them out too. Then on Nov. 8, 2024, the NIH acquiesced. The agency cited the retirement of key Alamogordo staff as its official reason for finally releasing the chimpanzees, but the unrelenting pressure from advocates played a major role. The decision to retire these 23 chimpanzees to Chimp Haven is a major victory for animals, their advocates, and public health.

The Power of Sanctuary

Chimp Haven, located in rural Louisiana, offers a home to chimpanzees who were previously used in experiments, entertainment, or kept at private residences. Unlike laboratories, where chimpanzees live in small, barren cages with minimal social interaction, Chimp Haven’s sprawling 200-acre sanctuary allows the chimpanzees to roam freely, interact with other chimpanzees, and engage in natural behaviors that were previously denied to them.

The facility is specially designed to provide an environment that is as close as possible to the natural habitat of chimpanzees, who have access to trees, climbing structures, and large outdoor enclosures, all of which are essential for their well-being. They will also receive individualized care from a team of dedicated caregivers and veterinarians who understand the complex physical and psychological needs of retired chimpanzees.

The 23 chimpanzees heading to Chimp Haven are embarking on a new chapter—one where they can finally live out their remaining years in peace and with the care they so deserve. Unfortunately, sanctuary is rarely an option for animals used in experiments—for them, death is almost always the outcome. That is why the Physicians Committee is working to humanize research and testing across the NIH and elsewhere. You can read about our progress here.