URGENT NEWS ADVISORY
Wednesday, August 25, 2004
Contact: Lori Nitzel 608. 257-6333 or (cell)
608.345-0767 SAEN 513.575-5517
Attention: News Desk
MADISON - The horrific killing of three monkeys at the
Wisconsin National Primate Research Center here - scalded in death in a
cage washer - has prompted an official complaint to be filed with
federal oversight agencies and a call by a national watchdog
organization to "blacklist" the Madison primate labs.
A news conference to release details of the incident
will be held WEDNESDAY, at 11 a.m. at the 4th floor conference room at
122 State Street.
Alliance for Animals, based in Madison, will also
submit copies of its official complaint filed with the U.S. Dept. of
Agriculture.
SAEN, a national watchdog nonprofit group, will
release a statement confirming it has placed the WNPRC on its national
"blacklist." That designation means the facility will be intensively
watched and investigated because of the poor treatment of animals in its
research labs.
SAEN has described the WNPRC deaths as "tragic" and a
result of university "negligence." SAEN said the deaths are indicative
of a national trend of "accidental" lab animal deaths. Last weekend,
seven primates at the California National Primate Research Center near
Sacramento died when a heater was left on overnight, SAEN said.
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