Chimpanzees once used in vaccine experiments begin a new life at Liberia sanctuary

The chimpanzees are staying at the Humane World for Animals’ Second Chance Chimpanzee Refuge in central Liberia. PIC/X@humaneworldkb

A group of chimpanzees that were once used for hepatitis B vaccine experiments in laboratories have received health checks at their new home in Liberia, in hopes of giving them a second chance at a normal life.

The West African chimpanzees received checks ranging from teeth cleaning to X-rays and pedicures at the Humane World for Animals' Second Chance Chimpanzee Refuge in central Liberia, said Liliana Pacheco Ricote, director of the sanctuary.

More than 400 of the chimpanzees had been used by American researchers in Liberia in the hepatitis B vaccine experiments from the 1970s until early 2000s, many of them captured in the wild as infants.

"They were used in very invasive research (and) went through a lot of experiments and pain," Ricote said. "Seeing how much they hurt about what we've done, it gives me a lot of pleasure to give them this second chance to live with dignity the life that they deserve," she added.

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