U.S. Astrochimps Caught in Dogfight Over Their Future

Before astronauts explored the heavens, another species of space traveler tested NASA rockets in flights that bolstered the hopes of stargazers: the nation’s astrochimps.

Recruited by the Air Force in the late 1950s, 65 toddler chimpanzees grew up learning to be at the helm of the Mercury space capsules that paved the way for an American to land on the moon. These animals found stardom in 1961 when one sharp chimp, 3-year-old Ham, won the honor of preceding the first U.S. human, Alan Shepard, into space. Hailed as a hero, Ham graced the cover of Life magazine.

But as manned space flight took off, NASA no longer needed chimpanzees, which can live more than 50 years. Ham died years ago; the Air Force grounded the other chimps.

Now, the nation’s 33 surviving astrochimps--along with their 110 descendants--are at the center of a custody conflict.

Since the 1970s, the Air Force has kept the animals caged in low-slung buildings at Holloman Air Force Base in southern New Mexico, leasing them to researchers. Over the years, the primates have been injected with strains of hepatitis and HIV (which is not fatal to them) as part of medical studies.

Now, the government wants to rid itself of the primate colony and has requested bids from those interested in assuming responsibility for the animals, complete with a viable strategy for their care.

“Any organization or individuals that have the wherewithal to take care of chimps for the long term would be eligible,” said Col. Jack Blackhurst, director of the Air Force chimp divestiture.

Eligible, yes, but not provided specific information needed to bid competitively, claim various animal rights groups.

In March, the Doris Day Animal League and the Center for Captive Chimpanzee Care--created by animal advocates solely to bid on the chimps--served officials, including Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen, with a 2-inch-thick petition. The document demanded disclosure of individual chimpanzees’ personality traits and detailed medical histories, and sought an extension beyond the June 3 deadline to submit bids.

And the Air Force recently received a letter signed by 35 members of Congress alleging that its bid process is biased in favor of a group led by Frederick Coulston, a researcher who has worked with the chimps since the 1970s and whose current lease for them began in 1993.

Although Coulston’s group has not decided whether to bid for the chimps, the lawmakers expressed concern that his group is the only one with access to the type of information sought by the chimpanzee care group.

It is not only alleged bias that animal rights advocates fear.

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On March 19, the U.S. Department of Agriculture charged the foundation with 24 violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act, claiming that the group failed to handle the chimpanzees properly, provide emergency care, store food in a manner that prevents “contamination and vermin infestation,” or effectively remove waste and control pests.

The foundation settled similar charges with the agency in 1996 and paid $40,000 in fines--penalties reinvested into the facilities that house the primates, said agriculture spokeswoman Robin Porter. “What probably does not bode well for the Coulston Foundation is the problem continues.”

Coulston discounted the federal charges, saying: “Much of it is not fact, if not all of it.”

Liz Clancy Lyons, director of special projects for the Doris Day Animal League, said the welfare of the chimpanzees and their role as history-makers drove animal protectors to seek custody. “They were just leased out like any other piece of military equipment,” she said. “These animals deserve better than that.”

Animal activists hope to raise about $10 million to build a sanctuary in Texas, said primatologist Carole Noon, who directs the donation effort.

The Center for Captive Chimpanzee Care has raised more than $1 million and will bid on however many chimps it can afford as the deadline nears, Noon said.