THE SOUTHWEST NATIONAL PRIMATE RESEARCH CENTER

The Southwest National Primate Research Center (SNPRC) began in 1999. Hosted by Texas Biomedical Research Institute (Texas Biomed) which was formerly known as the Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research,  SNPRC has the world’s largest captive baboon population and as of October 2011 held 153 chimpanzees, 115 of which are owned or supported by federal funds.  A government decision to transfer chimpanzees from Alamogordo Primate Facility to SNPRC in 2009 led to a public outcry that resulted in significant changes in policy regarding chimpanzee use in biomedical research. Lisa Myers did a story about SNPRC for Rock Center.

Summer 2015 UPDATE:  There are 129 chimpanzees at Texas Biomed.

Summer 2017 UPDATE:  There are 81 chimpanzees held at Texas Biomed.

Summer 2020 UPDATE:  There are 65 chimpanzees at Texas Biomed.