‘True Blood’ Star Sinks Teeth Into Chimpanzee Fight

True Blood‘s Kristin Bauer and veteran actor Gene Hackman have joined PETA, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, Animal Protection of New Mexico, and other animal rights groups in speaking out against the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) plan to transfer more than 200 “retired” chimpanzees from New Mexico to Texas—where they will likely be used in invasive experiments. Some of the animals are 60 years old and are refugees from the space program. Others were used in seatbelt crash tests decades ago.

“We now know that [chimpanzees] use tools, grieve for their dead, and are capable of complex communication with humans,” says Kristin. “These wonderful animals deserve so much better.”

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson is also fighting for these apes: After writing to NIH’s director, he met with NIH officials today to urge them to scrap this callous plan.

These chimpanzees need your help! Please take a moment today to ask officials to permanently retire the chimpanzees to a reputable sanctuary.

Written by Paula Moore