Retirement is supposed to be a happy time. You slave away for decades and spend your golden years basking in the glow of your achievements… that’s the way it’s supposed to work, right? Well, for two chimpanzees that appeared in numerous Hollywood movies and TV shows retirement is coming earlier than expected and is not without controversy.
According to news reports, the chimps were removed from a ranch and will retire to a sanctuary to settle a lawsuit alleging animal cruelty. (Not exactly the way you want to end an illustrious career.) A representative from the Animal Legal defense Fund told reporters that the chimps were trucked out of San Bernardino yesterday and were expected to arrive at their new home in New Mexico today.
“We’re thrilled that they’re not going to be forced to perform unwillingly anymore,” the representative told reporters. “This is such a happy day to see these chimpanzees being retired.”
But that’s just one side of the story. The chimps have appeared in dozens of popular Hollywood productions from TV’s “That 70s Show” and “The Craig Kilborn Show,” to the upcoming movie “Evan Almighty.” They were raised from a young age by trainer Sid Yost, who runs Amazing Animal Productions Inc. He claims the animals were never forced to perform; rather they enjoyed their jobs.
Here’s where is gets sticky—the Animal Legal Defense Fund and other groups sued Yost last year in federal court, accusing him of “beating the chimps with sticks, using an electric shock stick on them and punching, taunting and intimidating the animals.” The group also had a female primatologist with a group called the Chimpanzee Collaboratory work undercover at Yost’s San Bernardino ranch. According to court documents, she claims she saw the chimps being beaten to make them perform.
Yost, of course, denied abusing the animals and eventually the suit was settled out of court. According to news reports, as part of the settlement Yost agreed to give up the chimps and can no longer own or work with primates.
Here’s how the story ends: Sable, the female chimp, and Cody, a male chimp (both are 6-years-old) will remain in New Mexico, where they will join other chimp relatives, for an adjustment period. The plan is for them to eventually rejoin another Chimp Yost owned in a Florida sanctuary that houses dozens of primates on a series of islands. Animal experts say chimps can live 50 to 60 years so, hopefully, they will make the most of their early retirement.
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