Reunite Chimp Brothers Hunter & Lyon

Elias Zerhouni, MD, DirectorNational Institutes of Health9000 Rockville PikeBethesda, Maryland 20892Michael O. Leavitt, SecretaryThe U.S. Department of Health and Human Services200 Independence Avenue, S.W.Washington, D.C. 20201Dear Dr. Zerhouni and Mr. Leavitt:As a result of the CHIMP Act passed in December 2000, chimpanzees in U.S. laboratories have been reassigned and redistributed throughout the federal facilities which house them. A small number have been transferred to Chimp Haven, allowing them to live outside the lab environment.It has been brought to our attention that as a result of this, twin chimpanzee brothers, Hunter and Lyons, living at the Yerkes Behavioral Field Station, were separated after 21 years of being together. The separation of Hunter and Lyons is ethically unjustifiable, as demonstrated, ironically, by the very research they were involved in for years at the Yerkes station under the direction of Frans de Waal. Dr. de Waal has conducted extensive behavioral research on chimpanzees and other nonhuman primates and has published widely about the complexity and importance of bonds between chimpanzee families and social groups. He has demonstrated that chimpanzee brothers, like Hunter and Lyons, share a profound and enduring bond that is every bit as powerful as any between human brothers.It was not the intent of the CHIMP Act to inflict emotional suffering on chimpanzees in the federal system. Rather, the CHIMP Act was passed to address their special needs and heightened cognitive and emotional capabilities.We are writing to request that you use your authority to reunite Hunter and Lyons in permanent sanctuary. We respectfully request your response to our letter within ten days of receipt. We look forward to a positive response from both your offices.Thank you for your attention.Respectfully,