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HSUS ©2007
Lulu celebrates her tenth anniversary of living at the ranch with a celebratory watermelon "cake." |
For Lulu, life was not carefree for many years. A female chimpanzee at the Laboratory for Experimental Medicine and Surgery in Primates (LEMSIP) in Tuxedo, N.Y., Lulu suffered behind bars daily, undergoing biomedical research. When the facility closed its doors in 1997, Lulu and her fellow chimp companion, Midge, were fortunate to find sanctuary at the Cleveland Amory Black Beauty Ranch.
It is estimated that the LEMSIP facility housed close to 600 primates—primarily chimpanzees and monkeys—who were used in reproduction, blood transfusions, and research for hepatitis B and HIV (Project R&R). Chimpanzees were allegedly not allowed to go outdoors, because staff members were concerned about the spread of germs. Breeding programs at LEMSIP kept females in a constant reproduction cycle, and the infants were allegedly removed at the age of one to be handled by humans. Those who were not part of the breeding program were used as subjects in biomedical research.
At least one reason for LEMSIP's closure was the change in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) caging requirements—upgrades that would have cost the university millions of dollars. When the facility was shut down, most of the primates were given to the Coulston Foundation, despite the fact that the USDA had levied charges against Coulston for negligent deaths and violations of animal welfare laws. NYU students protested, but many of the animals' cruel fates remained unchanged. Fortunately for some, LEMSIP's veterinarian successfully placed hundreds of chimps and monkeys in animal sanctuaries around the country, including Lulu and Midge.
Lulu's Past is her Prologue
There are no surviving records to shed light on Lulu's early history. She was likely born in 1964 and may have been caught in the wild. The medical reports from LEMSIP indicate that she and Midge were housed together and used in hepatitis—and possibly HIV—research. When they came to the ranch in 1997, both became companions of Nim Chimpsky, a famous ranch resident who was able to speak in American Sign Language, until Nim's passing in 2000.
Lulu has some keen skills, which likely indicates she received some human instruction at LEMSIP before coming to the ranch. She knows how to use a toilet, wash her hands, wear clothes, brush her teeth, and wipe her mouth with a napkin.
Lulu likes to indulge her sweet tooth and can be quite adamant when she doesn't get what she wants. She will steal from her two ranch companions, Midge and Kitty, and fills her mouth with water in order to spit it back at her caretakers. She has no qualms about communicating her displeasure if she is not given more of her desired food.
Lulu is the quickest learner of the three chimps and is the most inquisitive student. Due to training, she allows her caretakers to inspect almost all areas of her body, a critical need in order to closely monitor her health. Like all chimps, she can be very stubborn at times, but that passes quickly, especially if a favorite treat might be involved. When Lulu is in a cooperative mood, her abilities to comprehend and respond to requests from caretakers are astounding.
Despite her grueling laboratory past, Lulu is currently happy, healthy, and confident. The trust she displays with her caretakers—and the companionship she shares with Midge and Kitty in their expansive, outdoor chimp habitat—are both good indicators that she will continue to live a long and enjoyable life at the ranch.
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Posted September 18, 2007
