Chimpanzees from vaccine research receive health checks in Liberia

Chimpanzees that were previously used in hepatitis B vaccine experiments are receiving comprehensive health examinations at the Humane World for Animals’ Second Chance Chimpanzee Refuge in central Liberia.

Between the 1970s and early 2000s, American researchers used more than 400 chimpanzees in Liberia for invasive laboratory research. Many of these animals were captured in the wild as infants. In 2015, the sanctuary assumed permanent responsibility for 60 of the remaining chimpanzees, which now reside primarily on mangrove forest-covered islands.

The recent medical checks, conducted under anesthesia, included dental examinations, X-rays, blood tests, and assessments of the heart, lungs, and nervous systems. These evaluations aim to detect early signs of disease and create individualized care plans as the animals age. The West African chimpanzees are currently classified as a critically endangered species.