Monkey Wrench

I was disturbed by “Pioneer Chimps� (Dec. 7), in which Gary Karasik blithely discusses animal experimentation. It is interesting that he did not mention the growing concern over the near-extinction of chimps. For every chimp brought alive to the United States, at least four die in transit. The idea that “they boldly go where no man has gone before� seems to imply that they go willingly.

Reading the article, one would conclude that life is just rosy for animals involved in experimentation. In fact, it’s a life that makes Dachau look good. The “special containment facility� described is a euphemism for an immobilization device that will restrain the chimp for its entire life--an unnatural life of sickness, fear and hastened death.

In the past, the Animals column has been a section for educated readers on animals, their habits and habitats. I don’t feel this is the place to slyly promote or glorify the misuse or abuse of animals.

Maggie Gilday

North Hollywood