The Coulston Foundation was a biomedical research facility established in Alamogordo, New Mexico, primarily known for its extensive use of chimpanzees. Operating for nearly a decade, the facility housed a large population of these primates for various scientific studies.
Formation and Research Focus
The Coulston Foundation (TCF) was founded in 1993 by toxicologist Fred Coulston in Alamogordo, New Mexico. Its mission was to conduct biomedical research, with a particular focus on infectious diseases like AIDS and hepatitis C, along with general drug testing. The foundation rapidly expanded its operations, eventually housing the largest captive chimpanzee colony, numbering around 600-650 chimpanzees at its peak. Coulston had a prior history in primate research, having managed a non-human primate research center at Holloman Air Force Base since 1970.
Allegations of Animal Cruelty and Regulatory Scrutiny
The Coulston Foundation became known for severe allegations of animal neglect and abuse. Chimpanzees at the facility endured poor living conditions, often confined in damp, dark, cement cells. Inadequate veterinary care was a consistent issue, with the facility losing 18 veterinarians between 1994 and 2001. At one point in 1998, the lab had only two and a half veterinarians to care for nearly 1,000 chimpanzees and monkeys, far below recommended levels.
High mortality rates among the chimpanzees were also reported, with 35 chimpanzees and 13 monkeys dying due to experimentation, insufficient veterinary care, and preventable diseases. Incidents included three chimpanzees dying in October 1993 from overheating due to a malfunctioning space heater. In 1999, a chimpanzee named Donna died after carrying a dead fetus for almost two months, leading to an investigation by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Animal welfare organizations investigated the facility, uncovering multiple violations of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). The USDA documented AWA violations starting in 1995, formally charging Coulston for the deaths of three chimpanzees and four monkeys that year. The USDA cited Coulston twice in 1998 for failing to provide adequate veterinary care and formally charged the lab for the negligent deaths of chimpanzees Jello and Echo. Despite ongoing issues, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) continued to provide millions in federal research grants to the foundation.
Foundation’s Closure and Chimpanzee Rescue
Mounting financial difficulties, coupled with sustained public pressure and ongoing regulatory issues, led to the Coulston Foundation’s closure. By 2001, the laboratory had lost government contracts due to animal welfare concerns. In December of that year, the foundation could not pay its bills, and foreclosure proceedings began.
In September 2002, Save the Chimps, a chimpanzee sanctuary, purchased the Coulston Foundation. This acquisition marked the beginning of the largest rescue effort for captive chimpanzees at the time. Save the Chimps immediately ceased all research activities at the facility and began the complex process of relocating the chimpanzees.
Save the Chimps received 266 chimpanzees from the Coulston Foundation. They modified the existing lab environment to create a healthier setting while constructing a permanent sanctuary in Fort Pierce, Florida. This massive undertaking, known as the “Great Chimpanzee Migration,” involved moving the 266 chimpanzees to their new island homes in Florida over a nine-year period, concluding in December 2011. Other organizations, such as Chimp Haven, also played a role in providing sanctuary for former research chimpanzees.
Legacy and the Sanctuary Movement
The Coulston Foundation’s case became a prominent example within the animal welfare movement, highlighting the pressing need for improved oversight of research facilities and more ethical treatment of primates. The extensive documentation of neglect and abuse at the foundation galvanized public opinion and heightened awareness of chimpanzees’ welfare in research settings. The case directly contributed to the growth and recognition of chimpanzee sanctuaries.
The events at Coulston highlighted the importance of providing retired research animals with appropriate, lifelong care in environments that prioritize their well-being. This spurred the broader movement to retire research chimpanzees, leading to legislative actions such as the Chimpanzee Health Improvement, Maintenance, and Protection (CHIMP) Act in 2000. This act established a national sanctuary system for chimpanzees retired from federal biomedical research programs, aiming to ensure their permanent retirement and care.