December 17, 2018
Raleigh, North Carolina, Office
USDA-APHIS-AC
920 Main Campus Drive, Suite 200
Raleigh, NC 27606-5210
aceast@aphis.usda.gov
robert.m.gibbens@aphis.usda.gov
SENT VIA EMAIL
To Whom It May Concern:
This letter pertains to Save the Chimps (STC), exhibitor license 58-C-0706. Multiple sources
(b) (6)
have contacted
with concerns regarding the circumstances
surrounding deaths, within the past few months, and injuries of chimpanzees.
has heard similar concerns from multiple sources. All wish to remain anonymous, claiming
fear of retaliation for voicing these concerns. (b) was informed that at least one veterinarian
signed a complaint to the USDA, but we but do not know if it was actually sent or what its
contents were.

(b)

AWI is urgently requesting that the USDA look into the following specific chimpanzee deaths
and injuries, as well as how Andrew Halloran, Ph.D., STC’s Director of Chimpanzee Care
Services, addressed the circumstances surrounding these deaths and injuries. Dr. Halloran has
been cited by multiple sources as central to these serious issues.
We hope the USDA will conduct a thorough investigation that includes interviewing, off-site, all
staff involved with these chimpanzees and obtaining any and all records and logs relating to
these chimpanzees’ care and welfare including but not limited to daily care, food intake,
anesthesia, sedation, social problems, fighting, and group dynamics, emails to and from STC
staff, and all necropsy and histopathology reports, particularly from the University of Florida.
Following are specifics that we request be investigated:
Deaths
Tiffany, female, age 14
Tiffany, along with Tuffy, came to STC earlier this year from a private owner who treated both
well, and both chimpanzees arrived at STC in good health. It is alleged that Tiffany refused to
eat the standard fare given to chimpanzees at STC – food she was not accustomed to eating – and
The sources contacted AWI researcher Eric Kleiman because of his central involvement in the shutdown of the
Coulston Foundation – including his protecting, for years, a network of whistleblowers inside the Foundation – and
STC’s subsequent takeover of that lab, which included the Foundation’s donating 266 chimpanzees and 61 monkeys
to STC.
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became depressed and anorexic. It is alleged that attempts to provide Tiffany with food she was
accustomed to and/or would possibly eat were stopped. After Tiffany’s death, multiple
complaints were filed with the STC Board of Directors. The complaints were anonymous,
claiming fear of retaliation.
Two STC veterinarians, Dr. Jocelyn Bezner and Dr. Amber Callaway-Lewis, were fired shortly
after Tiffany’s death. It is alleged that both of these veterinarians had tried to intervene on
Tiffany’s behalf, e.g., to provide Tiffany with different food, but were countermanded. As
Tiffany’s condition greatly deteriorated, these veterinarians tried IV fluids and a feeding tube.
Beth, female, DOB 3/3/84 (ex-Coulston Foundation chimpanzee)
Dr. Jocelyn Bezner, who had been a veterinarian at STC for years, and Dr. Amber CallawayLewis had been fired and were no longer at the sanctuary, therefore, Dr. Beth Hammond, staff
veterinarian at Lion Country Safari, was brought in to handle the care of this chimpanzee. It is
alleged that Beth showed clinical signs of heart failure, e.g., fluid retention, getting out of breath
while ambulating, and that she had difficulty breathing prior to being sedated – and died after the
sedation. It is further alleged that Beth was treated with an antibiotic and nothing else before her
death.
Ritt, male, DOB 1/3/94 (ex-Coulston Foundation chimpanzee)
It is alleged that on November 24, Ritt – a healthy chimpanzee with no underlying health
conditions – suffered an injury to his hand, possibly a finger broken at the joint with bone
showing. Dr. Genevieve Dumonceaux, director of animal health at the Palm Beach Zoo, was
brought in to care for Ritt. The day after the injury occurred, on November 25, she placed Ritt
under general anesthesia, from which he never awakened. It is believed that he was not under the
observation of a veterinarian or veterinary technician overnight following the surgery. He was
seen by Dr. Beth Hammond on November 26. Ritt was seen by another veterinarian on
November 27, and died that day after having been unconscious for three days.
Injuries
Jude, male, DOB 10/23/99 (ex-Coulston Foundation chimpanzee)
Capone, male, DOB unknown, ISIS number 1629 (ex-Coulston Foundation chimpanzee)
It is alleged that Capone and Jude had a long history of fighting, with Jude being repeatedly
injured by Capone. They had once lived together, but Capone severely injured Jude, and the
decision was made to separate them and erect a barrier. However, it is alleged that they still
fought through this mesh barrier, and Jude lost a finger. After that injury, a barrier made of finer
mesh, so that fingers could not penetrate, was put up. Despite this history of fighting and injuries,
Dr. Halloran approved the removal of the barrier. Capone then began to again fight with, and
injure, Jude. The barrier was eventually put back up, but they remained in adjoining enclosures.

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Multiple sources have told AWI that Dr. Halloran’s philosophy is, essentially, to let the
chimpanzees who aren’t getting along fight things out. This would be consistent with his
approving removal of the barrier between Capone and Jude despite their history of intense
fighting.
If that is Dr. Halloran’s philosophy, AWI urges USDA to review any other similar
injuries/circumstances of chimpanzees fighting without STC staff intervention, as this could
result in distress and traumatic injuries like those suffered by Jude, and even deaths.
Conclusion
If these allegations are true, then the situation at STC is dire. We hope that the USDA can
investigate as soon as possible and proceed accordingly. Should you need to reach (b) (6)
directly, his phone number is (b) (6)
and his email address is (b) (6)
.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
(b) (6)