Jun15
Chimpanzees Declared Citizens of Washington Town
Posted at 03:16 PM | Permalink
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Comments (6)
Here's a lovely follow-up to a story we mentioned earlier this year: The Cle Elum Seven are now honorary citizens of Cle Elum, Washington.
The Cle Elum Seven are chimpanzees who were living out life in a laboratory, until we helped them gain their freedom and they were given a home at the Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest in Cle Elum, Washington. As you might expect, the chimpanzees have thrived in the new setting, and their neighbors are clearly pleased. To celebrate the one-year anniversary of the chimpanzees' residency, the City Council unanimously issued a proclamation that made the chimpanzees honorary citizens. The proclamation also commends Cle Elum's human residents for donating toys, food, blankets, and time to the sanctuary.
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All together now: Awww!
It's beginning to look like a very positive trend is emerging for great apes. Perhaps some day soon, the abuse of chimpanzees and other apes in laboratories and in Hollywood will be a horror of the past.
Posted by Jeff Mackey
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Comments
I am sorry but why are they still in a small enclosure? I am sure we can do better than that.
Posted by: NT | June 15, 2009 08:42 PM
Chimps, bonobos and other primates are our closest living animal relatives. The town in Washington that recognizes them as citizens merits approbation. Conversely, the people in the Congo who eat them as bushmeat warrant condemnation.
Posted by: Brien Comerford | June 15, 2009 08:44 PM
This reminds me of the ending to Short Circuit 2 where Johnny 5 becomes the first robotic citizen of America.
Granted robots and chimps have nothing in common but still good for chimps. :)
Posted by: Pepsi One is Fun | June 15, 2009 10:28 PM
That's just such great news. Hooray for the Cle Elum Seven!
Thanks Peta for waking people up to the injustices done to animals one day at a time.
Posted by: lynda downie | June 15, 2009 11:06 PM
This is the most wonderful news!! Well done Washington! Thank you so much for this great step for Great creatures!
Posted by: Christa - South Africa | June 16, 2009 05:35 AM
I have to agree with NT. The chimps are still in a cage with no grass beneath their feet. Of course this is better than being in a steel, barren cage and experimented on, but this is still not enough. They should be allowed to get out of the cage and swing from real trees and have grass under their feet, not wooden floor boards.
Posted by: Rex's Mom | June 16, 2009 03:52 PM