The U.S. Government Will Stop Experimenting On Chimpanzees

We have been spared a Planet of the Apes-style uprising.

The US government has announced it will no longer use chimpanzees for research, NBC reports.

Instead, the remaining 50 chimps being held by the National Institute of Health will be sent to a sanctuary where they can enjoy an experimentation-free retirement.

If you thought that maybe the decision had been made on account of a sudden surge of empathy, think again. The NIH said no one had applied to use the chimps for research in two-and-a-half years.

"This in no way says NIH is in any way backing off on the need to [conduct] research on other non-human primates," NIH director Dr. Francis Collins said.

"This is solely a question of research on chimpanzees."

Despite chimps being the closest genetic relative to humans, Dr. Collins says “we have moved on from the time when research on chimpanzees was considered essential.”

In 2011, the NIH agreed to only use chimpanzees for study when “no alternative animals or other biological models… could be used to study a disease” and “it would be unethical to use humans in place of chimps.” If any research was conducted, it would have been done in a way that “minimises pain and distress.”

The 50 chimps will eventually be moved to Chimp Haven in Keithville, Louisiana. However, there are only 25 free spaces at Chimp Haven at the moment.

Just last month, PETA sent letters to residents in Dr. Collins' neighbourhood to register their disgust in the experimentation on moneys.

"I think that crosses the line and is deplorable,” he said.

“This is not, not a response in any way to the actions of that organisation."