Liberia Chimpanzee Rescue and Protection cares for chimps stolen from the forest used for laboratory testing with horrific experiments now living a happy life

Since 2010, Jenny and Jimmy, along with their dog Princess, have been in Africa working with wildlife conservation organizations that include The Jane Goodall Institute, EcoHealth Alliance, Smithsonian Institute, Uganda Wildlife Education Centre, and ​Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International. A team of three, Jenny, Jimmy, and Princess have lived in nine countries together, always with the mission of helping wildlife and furthering conservation initiatives. 

---

Immediately upon their arrival in Liberia, chimpanzee orphans literally arrived on their doorstep, needing not only emergency care but lifetime sanctuary. 

Princess plays an important role as a canine caregiver, providing her “siblings” a lot of fun, setting gentle boundaries, and shepherding them toward empathy and mutual understanding.

Princess the dog

 
In 2015, the Humane Society of the United States asked the Desmonds to relocate to Liberia from Kenya to take over care of 66 chimpanzees, living across six islands in an estuarine habitat, who had been retired from medical research. These chimps, formerly the responsibility of the New York Blood Center (NYBC), were on the verge of starvation, having been abandoned by the NYBC some months earlier. Jenny and Jimmy came to Liberia to create new feeding, care, and birth control protocols. Within weeks, the “island chimps” began to trust that food and water would be brought to them consistently; improvements in their demeanor and physical health were remarkable. 

Jimmy is a veterinarian 

Liberia Chimpanzee Rescue and Protection grew out of this experience, as word spread that the Desmonds could care for confiscated and orphaned chimps. Immediately upon their arrival in Liberia, chimpanzee orphans literally arrived on their doorstep, needing not only emergency care but lifetime sanctuary. To date, the Desmonds have taken in over 100 chimpanzees, ranging in age from a few months to twenty years. Ideally, these individuals will form a family and live together in a sanctuary that simulates—as closely as possible—a life in the wild.

 

Of course, the Desmond's hope is that fewer and fewer chimps will need care in sanctuaries—because those in the wild will be protected. Now residents of Liberia themselves, the Desmonds work alongside local Liberians, the government and international organizations to charge and arrest wildlife traffickers and poachers involved in the bushmeat and pet trades.
​
LCRP is also involved in many complementary programs, partnering with a diverse group of local and international organizations to further wildlife protection and conservation initiatives. Their hope is that with collaborative energy and efforts in all aspects of protection and conservation, the critically endangered chimpanzee and the unique biodiversity of Liberia will thrive.

https://www.liberiachimpanzeerescue.org/

Second Chance Chimpanzee Refuge Liberia is a sanctuary run by Humane World for Animals, caring for dozens of chimpanzees in Liberia, West Africa.

Most of the chimpanzees at the sanctuary were once used in invasive research, many of them for decades. Some were stolen from their forest homes and families as babies, most were born in a laboratory to be experimented on, while others were born after the laboratory closed its chimp program. In the past, chimpanzees were considered suitable biomedical research subjects because they share more than 98% of their DNA with humans. 

However, ethical concerns mounted as growing evidence of chimpanzee intelligence and complex social skills became known and scientific data proved that chimpanzees are not ideal research subjects; as a result, labs experimenting on them began to close. All of the chimpanzees at our sanctuary are amazing, resilient primates. Laboratory life took away their first chance of a free and natural existence. We are so proud to be giving them their second chance.In 1974, a U.S.-based research organization set up a laboratory in Liberia, Africa and began experimenting on chimpanzees. 

It bought baby chimpanzees stolen from the wild, and bred chimps in captivity. For the next three decades, more than 400 chimps were held in barren laboratory cages while being used for painful and invasive hepatitis B and blood cleansing experiments.In the early 2000’s, the laboratory began phasing out experiments on chimpanzees and relocated them in groups on nearby islands. These islands comprised mangrove forest which did not provide sufficient food or fresh water to keep the chimps alive, so the chimpanzees were reliant on humans to survive.

In 2015, funding from the laboratory was withdrawn and Humane World for Animals stepped in to provide emergency care and support to the workers who had continued to look after the chimps. Since then, we have taken on responsibility for the lifetime care of these animals, some of whom could live for another 50+ years. This is a massive undertaking but after all the chimps have been through, it’s the least they deserve.Our dedicated team in Liberia ensures the chimps’ wellbeing and smooth sanctuary operations, traveling about 50 km by boat to the islands twice a day, every day to provide the chimpanzees with nutritious locally sourced fruits and vegetables, daily observation and medication as needed including routine deworming and oral medications to address skin conditions, infections, or pain.

Under our care, the chimpanzees have thrived and are enjoying life, roaming freely on large, natural islands and living in social groups that are as close to chimpanzees in the wild as possible. It is the only sanctuary in Africa to have former laboratory chimps.

Authorities in Thailand are investigating after 72 tigers died suddenly at a popular tourist park where visitors can touch and pose with the animals.

 

A petting farm. This goes on all day. When this couple is told to stop, other people with a ticket  do exactly the same. The tigers are so docile that they are probably drugged. Please click on the video to enlarge. Mostly the teeth of the tigers are pulled or filed.

Mystery as 72 tigers suddenly die at Thai tourist park where visitors can touch the animals

By OLIVIA ALLHUSEN, FOREIGN NEWS REPORTER

 Updated: 09:46 GMT, 24 February 2026

• e-mail

103

View comments

Authorities in Thailand are investigating after 72 tigers died suddenly at a popular tourist park where visitors can touch and pose with the animals.

The deaths occurred in less than two weeks across two facilities at Tiger Kingdom Chiang Mai this month.

The provincial livestock department said tests detected canine distemper virus, though officials have not confirmed how the outbreak began.

At a press conference on Tuesday, authorities said the virus was no longer spreading, and no further tiger deaths had been recorded. No humans were infected.

The remains of the tigers have been buried, and a recommendation was made for the gravely ill tigers be euthanized, authorities said.

More than 240 tigers were housed at the two sites, according to local media. 

The facility advertises close-up encounters, allowing tourists to pet and take photos with the big cats. 

Canine distemper is a highly contagious disease that attacks the respiratory, gastrointestinal and nervous systems. 

Authorities in Thailand are investigating after 72 tigers died suddenly at a popular tourist park where visitors can touch and pose with the animals. Pictured: A Thai couple seen taking pictures next to a tiger at Tiger Kingdom

The deaths occurred in less than two weeks across two facilities at Tiger Kingdom Chiang Mai this month

The provincial livestock department said tests detected canine distemper virus, though officials have not confirmed how the outbreak began

It is most common in dogs but can infect big cats, often fatally. Officials also said samples from carcasses tested positive for a bacteria linked to respiratory illness.

Somchuan Ratanamungklanon, director of the national livestock department, said detecting illness in tigers can be difficult. 'By the time we realised they were sick, it was already too late,' he told local media.

Authorities have collected samples from the animals, their food and their surroundings. 

In 2004, nearly 150 tigers died or were euthanized during a bird flu outbreak at a zoo in Chonburi province, also linked to raw chicken feed. 

Staff at the Chiang Mai park have been placed under observation for 21 days, though none have fallen ill, Thai PBS reported.

Tiger Kingdom Chiang Mai has closed temporarily for two weeks while disinfection work is carried out. 

Animal rights groups said the outbreak exposed the risks faced by captive wildlife used for entertainment.

Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand said in a statement that the tigers' deaths exposed the 'extreme vulnerability of captive wildlife facilities to infectious disease'.

Tragedies like this would be far less likely to happen if tourists stayed away from these attractions, Peta Asia said in a statement.

Sea Shepherd: Face to Face With Antarctica’s Destructive Krill Fleet ( Video ) what is krill? Food for whales, seals, penguins and fish, humans are disrupting the marine ecosystems

 Please click to enlarge  the video

We push through the thickest ice we have faced so far. Around Coronation Island, the fleet is there. Science and media working side by side as we approach the krill supertrawlers for the first time this year.

Super trawlers fish krill that is food meant for whales. The sell the krill for the production make-up, and in several suplements as well as pet food In this episode, we show the fleet through two lenses. Filmed and edited on board, as the campaign unfolds. Episode 5 is first contact. Stay with us.

Sea Shepherd is an international, non-profit marine conservation organization that engages in direct action campaigns to defend wildlife, and conserve and protect the world’s oceans from illegal exploitation and environmental destruction. Learn more about us: https://www.seashepherdglobal.org/ Support our efforts: https://www.seashepherdglobal.org/don...

What is Antarctic Krill ?

Antarctic krill (*Euphausia superba*) is a small, shrimp-like crustacean found in the cold waters of the Southern Ocean, around Antarctica. Despite their tiny size, krill play a huge role in the marine ecosystem, serving as a primary food source for whales, seals, penguins, and fish. These krill are at the base of the ocean’s food chain, making them essential for sustaining marine life.

Photo of Krill 

In recent years, krill has also become valuable to humans, particularly for its nutritional benefits like Omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants. Krill harvesting is managed through strict sustainability practices, ensuring that their populations remain healthy and that marine ecosystems aren’t disrupted. 

Organizations like the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) regulate krill fishing to protect this vital resource while allowing industries to benefit from it responsibly.

How Do Humans Use Krill?

The most common use is in krill oil supplements, a powerhouse of Omega-3 fatty acids. These fatty acids are crucial for supporting heart health, reducing inflammation, and improving cognitive function. Krill oil’s natural structure allows it to be more easily absorbed than fish oil, making it a smarter choice for those seeking effective results. 

Krill meat, while lesser known, is a highly nutritious food option. Rich in protein and antioxidants like astaxanthin, it provides a low-calorie, high-nutrient alternative to traditional seafood. The antioxidant content helps combat oxidative stress in the body, which can lower the risk of chronic diseases. 

Beyond human consumption, krill plays a vital role in animal feed, particularly in aquaculture. Krill meal boosts the health of farmed fish, improving their growth and quality. Additionally, it’s found in premium pet food, where it promotes a healthy coat and supports joint health in pets.

Krill in Human Nutrition

Antarctic krill provides significant health benefits through both krill meat and krill oil supplements. Krill is not only a rich source of lean protein but is also packed with Omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for heart and brain health. Incorporating krill into your diet can be a game changer for those looking to boost their overall wellness naturally and sustainably.

Is It Good to Eat Krill?

Yes, krill is an excellent choice for human consumption due to its impressive nutritional profile. Krill meat is a nutrient-dense, lean protein source, making it ideal for those looking to maintain or improve their health through diet. It’s rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, particularly EPA and DHA, which are known for supporting heart and brain health. 

Omega-3s help reduce inflammation, lower triglyceride levels, and promote cognitive function, making krill a powerhouse for cardiovascular wellness and mental clarity. 

Beyond that, krill contains essential amino acids that support muscle growth and repair, making it a great option for active individuals or those focused on maintaining lean muscle.

$5,000 Reward For Information On 9 Horses Found Shot To Death In Arizona National Forest: in 2022, 30 horses were found shot to death, in the same area

 

Please click to enlarge 

In late January, nine wild horses were found shot and killed in Arizona’s Heber Wild Horse Territory, located within the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest in the Black Mesa Ranger District.

Wild horses near the town of Heber in eastern Arizona.

According to the U.S. Forest Service, all nine animals were discovered with gunshot wounds. Necropsies confirmed they were killed with firearms, and the case has been opened as a criminal investigation. Authorities are offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.

Officials are asking anyone with information to contact local law enforcement as the investigation remains active.

Advocates warn that wild horses in the region have repeatedly faced deadly threats.

“This is not the first time this herd has suffered deadly violence. In October 2022, more than 30 wild horses were shot and killed in the same forest,” stated American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC).

AWHC also noted that previous requests for the creation of a task force to identify and stop those responsible have not resulted in any public response or coordinated action.

“Small herds like Heber’s are uniquely vulnerable,” stated AWHC. “This is why we advocate for science‑based alternatives to roundups, including humane fertility control. With in‑the‑wild conservation and the meaningful enforcement of federal protections, we can keep wild horses and burros wild, free, and thriving.”

The USDA Forest Service is urging anyone with information to contact the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office tip line at 928‑524‑9908.

In 2022 more than 30 horses were shot dead  Some of the reasons were.....?? What ever the final results will be, the discussion is  interesting

At least 30 horses were found shot to death in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests in October, highlighting the tensions among scientists, hunters, government agencies and horse advocates.

The Forest Service is helping investigate the deaths, but this isn’t the first time feral horses have been slaughtered on federal land.

Wild horses are protected by the Wild Horse and Burro Act of 1971. In the Apache-Sitgreaves forests, the horses in the Heber Wild Horse Territory in the Black Mesa District area on the Sitgreaves side are considered wild and are protected by the act. Horses in the Alpine Ranger District on the Apache side are considered feral or unauthorized, so they’re not federally protected. The Apache and Sitgreaves national forests were administratively combined in 1974 and are managed as one from Springerville. The Forest Service uses legal designations laid out by the act to distinguish between wild and feral horses in an area that stretches over 2 million acres.

Rob Lever, a detailed deputy forest supervisor for Apache-Sitgreave, said the classification has to do with location and timing. Horses present during the passage of the Wild Horse and Burro Act are protected, but those that arrived after that or were born out there are considered unauthorized livestock and aren’t protected.

Horses aren’t native to North America. Spanish conquistadors brought them to the continent in the late 1400s, and feral populations grew from escaped animals. Although horses were an integral part of pioneer life, they’re an invasive species that some scientists consider hazardous to the environment.

The Wild Horse and Burro Act established that “wild free-roaming horses and burros are living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the West; that they contribute to the diversity of life forms within the Nation and enrich the lives of the American people; and that these horses and burros are fast disappearing from the American scene. It is the policy of Congress that wild free-roaming horses and burros shall be protected from capture, branding, harassment, or death; and to accomplish this they are to be considered in the area where presently found, as an integral part of the natural system of the public lands.”

Lever said the horses found dead in October are classified as feral and aren’t protected by this act, but may be protected by other laws.

“Wild livestock is somewhat protected by Arizona state statutes, as far as animal cruelty, etc.,” he said. “They’re not protected as far as living in that landscape by the Apache-Sitgreaves forest because they’re not native.”

Some groups want free-roaming horses protected at all costs, while others are more concerned with the well-being of the environment. Passion from both sides has the Forest Service caught in the crossfire.

“We understand this is an emotional issue for a lot of people,” Lever said. “We take it very seriously. There are Forest Service employees, myself included, that own horses. So it’s not something we think is OK as far as the killing of those animals.”

The Forest Service doesn’t have investigatory jurisdiction over unauthorized livestock, but it is assisting the U.S. Department of Agriculture to find out who’s responsible for the most recent slaughter.

To prevent future incidents like this, Lever said the Forest Service is focusing on the removal of feral horses.

“The best thing we can do is round those animals up that don’t belong on that landscape and place them in the best homes we can,” he said.

Removal may not only prevent further shootings, but it’s also a part of the Forest Service’s efforts to restore and prevent the damage feral horses may have caused to the environment.

“We’re managing the habitat here in the National Forest and we have an unauthorized non-native species out there,” Lever said. “It’s adversely impacting the habitat.”

Lever said the Forest Service has been using gentle methods of removal, such as bait-trapping feral horses in big pens. They’re held for five days, then put up for sale in small groups.

Biologist Bob Vahle oversees the northeast part of the state, which includes the Apache-Sitgreaves forest, for the Arizona Wildlife Federation. Vahle worked closely with the Forest Service on horse management and habitat restoration in the area.

Vahle said feral horses overgraze rangelands, trample streambanks and compete with endangered species, including the New Mexico meadow jumping mouse and the Apache trout. In addition, he said, feral horses have damaged multiple streams in the Apache-Sitgreaves forests.

“If those animals camp on those spots and they continually are utilized and don’t move off and let things stabilize or restore, then what happens is that all those stream banks start to break down,” Vahle said. “The stream starts to widen, and now the water in the streams essentially gets shallower, the temperatures go up, and now they become less inhabitable by trout or some of the aquatic species that depend on cool water or aquatic insects. So there’s kind of a domino effect that can happen just when you overgraze or over trample a particularly sensitive area like a riparian or stream area.”

Vahle said the feral horse killings might be happening because people see the damage these animals can cause.

“These are animals that are competing with native wildlife,” he said. “They may be competing with a permittee’s livestock … you think everybody loves horses, but I kind of take it in this situation, they’re looking at them as having impacts on habitat, impacts on the wildlife that they may like or impacts on maybe a rancher’s livelihood.”

Although feral horse populations have gotten out of control, Vahle said there are more humane ways to deal with the issue and that the Arizona Wildlife Federation doesn’t condone these killings.

“We do condone the humane treatment of the horses that are there, but we are supporting their removal,” he said. “They’re not native and they have not been formally designated as wild horses under the Wild Horse and Burro Act.”

The Forest Service and other agencies have had many difficulties dealing with the feral horse issue because of some advocates’ emotional attachment to horses, Vahle said.

Horse advocates and organizations like the American Wild Horse Campaign, Salt River Horse Management Group and Heber Wild Horses disagree that horses damage the environment. The groups are fighting to give free-roaming horses a place on Arizona public lands.

Betty Nixon of Heber has been fighting for the horses in the Apache-Sitgreaves for years. She said feral horses benefit the environment.

Horses “have incisors unlike domestic livestock that’s put in the forest to graze,” Nixon said.

“They actually have upper and lower incisors, so they nip off the grasses, they don’t destroy the root system,” she said. “Also they move and roam as they graze and nip off pieces of grass here and there so the grass is able to regrow without the root system being damaged.

“They don’t they don’t urinate and defecate in the water sources like domestic livestock do. Also, because of the way their digestive system is, the seed that they take in when they defecate throughout the forest, those seeds are in their dung and it seeds the forest. When they walk, they stir up bugs and rodents for birds, coyotes and other animals that are looking for food sources.

“They also break frozen water like very thick ice on the water sources. They break that so that smaller, weaker animals are able to drink in the wintertime.”

Nixon blamed the environmental damage in the Apache-Sitgreaves on hunters, off-road vehicles, cattle, wildfires and the Forest Service’s failure to clean up litter. Large swaths of land have been damaged by off-road vehicles, she said, and the Forest Service has never tried to stop this. She said the Forest Service has also failed to clean up barbed wire from fences that were damaged by snow or wildfires, which can snare and injure wildlife.

Hunters have also played a big part in the forest damage, Nixon said. Irresponsible target shooting has led to damaged trees and litter from leaving targets and shotgun shells behind that the Forest Service hasn’t cleaned up.

In a comment to the Heber Wild Horse Territory Plan team, Nixon said, “while the Forest Service feigns concern for the health of the forest when it comes to the horses, they show no concern for the forest when it comes to damage and destruction caused by people.”

Nixon said that because of the damage caused by humans, the feral horses don’t need to be removed.

The Salt River Horse Management Group also opposes the removal of these horses. It’s working to purchase the feral horses that were removed and put up for sale in the Apache-Sitgreaves, and it urges those in charge of managing the horses to use humane birth control instead of selling them to potentially harmful owners.

Nixon also said the horses never should’ve been classified as feral or unauthorized, but that’s not the Forest Service’s fault.

“It goes back to 1971, the Forest Service never wanted to manage wild horses and so they failed to do an inventory of those horses over in Alpine,” Nixon said. “I believe that there is adequate evidence that there were wild horses in the area. Horses were a huge part of history in Arizona. … I don’t think that they ever should have been classified as unauthorized livestock, but that’s already been OKd and the Forest Service has to abide by the laws.”

Nixon submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to see how the Forest Service had set parameters for the Heber Wild Horse Territory and if it had counted the horses as laid out in the Wild Horse and Burro Act. Nixon said she couldn’t locate any documents relating to the boundaries, size and territory locations for wild horses in the Apache-Sitgreaves forest, or proof the Forest Service had taken inventory of the horses. Without an accurate tally of feral horses, the service can’t prove overpopulation, she said.

“Should they be removed? Well, they (Forest Service officials) have to prove that overpopulation and they haven’t done that at this point,” Nixon said. “They’ve never kept an inventory, they’re just now starting to keep an inventory because they have to. They were forced to by a judge.”

In 2005, the Animal Welfare Institute and other animal advocacy groups sued the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Forest Service and other government agencies for violating the Wild Horse and Burro Act as it relates to the Apache-Sitgreaves forest. The parties involved settled this case by creating more specific guidelines for the Forest Service to follow in rounding up feral horses and forcing officials to take inventory.

“The Forest Service has a lot of mandates to meet,” Lever said. “There’s always a conflict or can be a conflict between mandates that are given to us by Congress.”

Lever said rounding up feral horses and selling them is the best the Forest Service can do.

“We analyzed our approach to this,” he said. “We analyzed whether these were wild or not. It takes analysis before we do any of that, National Environmental Policy Act analysis. So we’ve done those things and we believe that this is the correct course of action.”

Nixon said all free-roaming horses should be protected under the language of the Wild Horse and Burro Act, adding that the Forest Service is violating the essence of the act.

“The Forest Service failed to follow both the letter and the spirit of the 1971 Wild and Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act,” Nixon said in a comment to the Heber Wild Horse Territory Management Plan team.

Nixon said the Forest Service has failed the horses and the American people.

“They’re not only an Arizona treasure, but they’re a national treasure and they should be preserved as a national treasure,” she said.