Full Breakdown
Sanctuary Health Checks Offer New Hope for Former Hepatitis B Research Chimpanzees
9/5/2026, 9:13:42 PM
New Health Assessments at Liberia’s Second Chance Sanctuary
A group of West African chimpanzees that participated in hepatitis B vaccine experiments from the 1970s through the early 2000s received comprehensive health examinations this month at the Humane World for Animals’ Second Chance Chimpanzee Refuge in central Liberia. Under anesthesia, the animals underwent dental cleanings, X-rays, blood work, and evaluations of the heart, lungs and nervous system. The checks are intended to identify early disease signs and to develop individualized care plans as the chimps age.
Background: Decades-Long Experiments and Relocation
More than 400 chimpanzees were used by American researchers in Liberia for hepatitis B vaccine development, many captured as infants and kept in invasive laboratory conditions. In 2015 the sanctuary assumed permanent responsibility for the 60 chimpanzees that remained after the research program ended. Liberia hosts the second-largest population of West African chimpanzees, a critically endangered species whose numbers are rapidly declining.
Key Figures & Groups
- Liliana Pacheco Ricote – Director of the Second Chance sanctuary, overseeing the health-check program.
- Belen Perez Hernando – Veterinarian at the sanctuary, conducting the examinations.
- Dr. Mark Ofua – Veterinarian and West Africa representative for the Wild Africa conservation group, commenting on animal-research impacts.
- Humane World for Animals – Organization that operates the refuge and coordinated the assessments.
Official Statements & Responses
Veterinarian Hernando described the checks as essential for monitoring long-term health and tailoring future care. Dr. The sanctuary plans to repeat the examinations for the remaining chimpanzees once the initial assessments are completed.
Verbatim Quotes
- “They were used in very invasive research … (and) went through a lot of experiments and pain,” — Liliana Pacheco Ricote, director of the sanctuary
- “The health checks are a vital part of caring for these chimpanzees who have been through so much,” — Belen Perez Hernando, veterinarian
These examinations mark the first systematic effort to evaluate the health of chimpanzees formerly involved in biomedical research, offering a pathway toward improved welfare for a critically endangered population.
