Alamogordo, NM (September 16, 2004) - Today is the two-year anniversary of the death of Ashley, the 16-year-old chimpanzee who died at the NIH-owned Alamogordo Primate Facility (APF) as a result of alleged institutional neglect and abandonment by NIH contractor Charles River Laboratories, In Defense of Animals announced today.

The death of Ashley and another chimpanzee, Rex, as well as the near-death of Topsy, were the subject of unprecedented criminal animal cruelty charges filed on September 7 against Charles River Laboratories and Charles River's APF Director, veterinarian Dr. Rick Lee, by Otero County, New Mexico District Attorney Scot Key. Copies of the criminal complaint, detailed search warrant, Ashley's picture and related records are available at http://www.NIHchimpcruelty.com

Ashley had white hair on her chin and often twirled around and tilted her head. She was friendly, liked to be scratched, and often kept her distance from other chimpanzees. On September 16, 2002, she was attacked from all sides by 11 of cagemates and suffered a wound to her genitalia. Although she suffered from a medical condition that made clotting more difficult, bled through much of the day, and exhibited signs of shock (i.e., violent shaking), APF animal care staff made the conscious decision to leave her in the "care" of untrained security personnel, and vacated the facility at the end of the workshift. Ashley was found dead several hours later.

"We must make sure that Ashley did not suffer and die in vain," said IDA Research Director Eric Kleiman. "The NIH and Charles River must be held accountable for this egregious cruelty."

Kleiman noted that the very same day that Ashley died under conditions of alleged criminal animal cruelty at the APF, 266 chimpanzees and 61 monkeys formerly "owned" by The Coulston Foundation primate testing lab were permanently retired by Savethechimps, with multimillion-dollar support from the Arcus Foundation. The Coulston lab collapsed after an eight-year campaign led by IDA.

"The solution to this injustice is clear," concluded Kleiman. "Invasive experiments on our closest genetic cousins must end, and the over 1,000 chimpanzees currently incarcerated in labs must be permanently retired in state-of-the-art, non-governmental sanctuaries like Savethechimps."

IDA is an international animal advocacy and rescue organization based in Mill Valley, CA. The group's investigations have made history by leading to the criminal animal cruelty charges filed last week against the APF and the closure of The Coulston Foundation in 2002.