Every morning, Penny Reynolds takes a familiar stroll through her 9-acre property, sprinkling corn for neighborhood deer, a routine she’s cherished for over 40 years. However, the tranquility of this daily pleasure is now overshadowed by concerns about the potential impact of a massive monkey breeding facility.
Local authorities in Bainbridge, Georgia, recently greenlit a plan by Safer Human Medicine to construct one of the largest monkey breeding complexes in the country. The $396 million facility, capable of housing 30,000 monkeys, has stirred unease among residents like Reynolds, whose property borders the proposed site.
Safer Human Medicine aims to breed long-tailed macaques for pharmaceutical companies, universities, and laboratories involved in medical research. With the global supply of research monkeys dwindling, especially after China ceased monkey exports to the U.S. in 2020, the biomedical research industry has sought to expand domestic breeding facilities.
In Bainbridge, a growing coalition of locals, joined by animal rights activists, is vehemently opposing the monkey breeding plan before construction commences. Concerns span property devaluation, disease transmission, potential escapes during natural disasters, environmental damage, and the impact on the prized Flint River, a local attraction.
The Safer Human Medicine project is not the first to face community resistance. In a Houston suburb last year, plans for a monkey farm were swiftly halted due to worries about waste, pollution, and animal welfare. While critics argue against using monkeys as research subjects on ethical grounds, scientific institutions maintain the irreplaceable role of nonhuman primates in medical studies.
In Bainbridge, the opposition has manifested in signs reading “STOP THE MONKEY FARM,” a Facebook group named “No Monkey Breeding Bainbridge, GA!,” and increased attendance at city and county commission meetings.
Residents fear potential risks, ranging from disease spread to environmental pollution. Safer Human Medicine, in a letter to residents, reassured them of safety measures, claiming the monkeys and facility would not pose a threat. However, skepticism persists.
The secretive nature of the deal, with officials signing non-disclosure agreements, has fueled community frustration. Residents argue that the promised jobs are not worth the potential hazards, and they lament the lack of public input in the decision-making process.
Local authorities assert that the facility will boost the area’s economy, providing over 250 well-paying jobs with wages starting at $18 to $22 per hour and full benefits. As part of the agreement, Safer Human Medicine secured a 200-acre lease and a 100% tax abatement for the first decade.
Safer Human Medicine, despite being a new company, is led by experienced executives from the animal breeding and research industry. The Chief Operating Officer, Kurt Derfler, was previously involved with Charles River Laboratories, a company subpoenaed for allegedly smuggling monkeys. The Chief Executive Officer, Jim Harkness, oversaw operations at Envigo, which had to relocate beagles due to animal welfare violations.
The company maintains a commitment to building a safe and state-of-the-art facility, emphasizing the critical need for pharmaceutical research. Safer Human Medicine argues that its leadership’s experience in the industry is an asset for the Bainbridge project.
The nationwide shortage of research monkeys has prompted private companies to propose ambitious breeding facilities. China’s export ban in 2020 further exacerbated the shortage, leading to calls for the establishment of domestic breeding colonies.
In a recent meeting led by PETA, Bainbridge residents expressed concerns about potential water contamination, animal welfare, and the overall viability of halting the project. While Safer Human Medicine’s tax breaks were voided due to insufficient public notification, the project’s momentum persists.
Residents continue their unified opposition, hoping to influence local officials and prevent the monkey breeding facility from becoming a reality in Bainbridge. The community’s collective efforts have already scored a small victory, prompting officials to reconsider the tax incentives associated with the project.