Chimpanzees chow down at feeding time on "Monkey Island," a colony of former research lab captives on an atoll deep in the jungle of southern Liberia. The colony of more than 60 chimps has been at the center of an international storm since the New York-based blood bank that funded their care pulled out in March.
Chimpanzees chow down at feeding time on "Monkey Island," a colony of former research lab captives on an atoll deep in the jungle of southern Liberia. The colony of more than 60 chimps has been at the center of an international storm since the New York-based blood bank that funded their care pulled out in March.
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The New York Blood Center did tests on the chimps for hepatitis B and other diseases in Liberia in the 1970s, stopping about a decade ago. The center had paid for their care ever since but this year discontinued funding.
The New York Blood Center did tests on the chimps for hepatitis B and other diseases in Liberia in the 1970s, stopping about a decade ago. The center had paid for their care ever since but this year discontinued funding.
ZOOM DOSSO/AFP/Getty Images
A staff of 25 people makes daily trips to the island with nearly 500 pounds of food per day, at a cost of $20,000 per month, according to the Humane Society of the United States, which is now helping care for the primates.
A staff of 25 people makes daily trips to the island with nearly 500 pounds of food per day, at a cost of $20,000 per month, according to the Humane Society of the United States, which is now helping care for the primates.
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A visiting caretaker interacts with a chimpanzee after feeding time. The only significant inhabitants of the six islets, the chimps live on their very own "Planet of the Apes" -- a nickname given to the archipelago by local media.
A visiting caretaker interacts with a chimpanzee after feeding time. The only significant inhabitants of the six islets, the chimps live on their very own "Planet of the Apes" -- a nickname given to the archipelago by local media.
Abbas Dulleh/AP
Some of the former research chimps have mated and had babies on the islands. There were 66 chimps living in the colony earlier this year, but the number is down to 64 now after two deaths, according to the Humane Society.
Some of the former research chimps have mated and had babies on the islands. There were 66 chimps living in the colony earlier this year, but the number is down to 64 now after two deaths, according to the Humane Society.
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Vice made a 2014 documentary about the chimpanzee colony and the research lab that started it, Vilab II. <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.vice.com%2Fvideo%2Fthe-lab-apes-of-liberia" target="_blank" target="_blank">Footage shows</a> that the chimps can be threatening to unfamiliar visitors.
Vice made a 2014 documentary about the chimpanzee colony and the research lab that started it, Vilab II. Footage shows that the chimps can be threatening to unfamiliar visitors.
ZOOM DOSSO/AFP/Getty Images
Workers must bring water to the chimps in addition to food, as the islands lack both potable water and good food sources for the animals. Water tanks that are supposed to ferry clean water to the island often malfunction.
Workers must bring water to the chimps in addition to food, as the islands lack both potable water and good food sources for the animals. Water tanks that are supposed to ferry clean water to the island often malfunction.
ZOOM DOSSO/AFP/Getty Images
The Human Society of the United States is <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gofundme.com%2Fabandonedchimps" target="_blank" target="_blank">asking for help</a> from various quarters, including the public, to continue funding efforts to bring food, water and possibly medical care to the chimpanzees, who are confined to the islands.
The Human Society of the United States is asking for help from various quarters, including the public, to continue funding efforts to bring food, water and possibly medical care to the chimpanzees, who are confined to the islands.
ZOOM DOSSO/AFP/Getty Images