Chimp Haven Starts $5.1M Expansion Drive

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The national sanctuary for retired federal research chimpanzees in Keithville, La., hopes to raise $5.1 million to make room for 110 chimps being moved from a lab in New Iberia and to prepare for even more.

A spokeswoman says $2.6 million would create space for the federally owned chimps being moved from the University of Louisiana-Lafayette's New Iberia Research Center. The rest of the money would be used to add a quarantine building and housing for more animals at the sanctuary, where 123 already live.

Chimp Haven received some big gifts this year. Included were more than $600,000 to house and care for five chimpanzees infected with HIV, and a pledge of $13,000 annually in lifetime support for a surprise baby. Captive chimps live about 60 years.