Former research chimpanzees receive health evaluations at Liberian sanctuary

…are still being compiled, so the long-term effects of their time in research remain unclear. Ricote said the physical and behavioural effects of the experiments were nevertheless still apparent in some of the animals. " They were used in very invasive research ... (and) went through a lot of experiments and pain ," she said. Liberia has the second-largest population of chimpanzees in West Africa after Guinea. West African chimpanzees are classified as critically endangered as their numbers continue to decline. For the…

…The checks included examinations of the teeth, heart, lungs and nervous system, along with blood tests. The chimpanzees also received booster vaccinations and nail trims, with plans to examine the remaining animals. " The health checks are a vital part of caring for these chimpanzees who have been through so much ," said Belen Perez Hernando, the sanctuary's veterinarian. The chimpanzees are now typically between 30 and 35 years old. The full findings from the latest assessments are still being compiled, so the long-term effects…