Pan troglodytes (Common Chimpanzee) 
Utilization 
The chimpanzee is the irreplaceable model for study of certain human 
health problems. The alternative subject for such studies is man him¬ 
self, and research with human beings is less feasible than ever. The 
chimpanzee is in great demand for research in hepatitis, especially 
hepatitis B to which it is the only animal other than man known to be 
susceptible. This ape is also used for studies of various other human 
diseases and for psychobiological research. In total, approximately 180 
chimpanzee are needed each year. As man's surrogate for evaluation of 
many health hazards and health protective measures, this animal is 
without equal. 
Foreign Sources 
The chimpanzee, which originates from West Africa, is threatened, and 
international trade is controlled accordingly. Although threatened, it 
is difficult to protect in some of its remote native localities, where 
it is considered an agricultural pest and killed. Such animals should 
be removed for biomedical studies and/or breeding projects, but an 
adequate arrangement for this remains to be developed. 
Production in United States 
Some captive breeding of this threatened species is now underway in the 
United States, producing about 75 animals annually. These domestically 
produced chimpanzees are all required for specific high-priority research 
activities which can justify the $5,000 to $10,000 cost per animal. A 
project, initiated in 1977, was designed to acquire chimpanzees for 
breeding purposes from research projects where they are no longer needed. 
Progeny of this colony and animals unsuitable for breeding will be made 
available to the general research community. Approximately 20 animals 
per year should eventually result from this effort. 
Recommendations 
The high cost of the chimpanzee, combined with difficulties in importing 
new animals for breeding stock have been limiting factors in the develop¬ 
ment of domestic production. However, because this species is irreplaceable 
for several specific kinds of research, sponsors should consider the 
advisability of supporting a nationally coordinated chimpanzee production 
program to meet their overall needs on a continuing basis. 
It is recommended that efforts on an international level be undertaken 
by the IPSC to arrange for the recovery of chimpanzees that might other¬ 
wise be killed as pests and to investigate the possibility of establishing 
formal arrangements to breed this animal in captivity within its countries 
of origin. 
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