chimpanzees as laboratory animals

"When the United States was scrambling to catch up to the Soviets after their successful launch of Sputnik, they didn't turn to Mercury Seven astronauts Alan Shepard and John Glenn. Rather, they began bringing chimpanzees to Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico for a top-secret program. The goal? To do everything America needed to make space travel safe for humans and beat the Soviets. Based on extensive research and interviews with living members of the team of veterinarians, handlers, and psychologists who worked with the animals, [this book] offers a fresh perspective on animal intelligence and the rise of the space age. Detailed back matter provides resources, space mission stats, and calls to action for young readers to honor the astrochimps' legacy and advocate for the humane treatment of chimpanzees today" -- Provided by publisher.

"Clementine is different from other mice: she can calculate the speed of light and she dreams in Latin. The scientists say she's a genius and put her through test after test. Clementine is proud of being a good lab mouse, but she's lonely. Her only snatches of friendship occur during her late-night visits with a chimpanzee named Rosie. When a compassionate lab technician frees Clementine, the mouse discovers an outside world full of wonders: Brussels sprouts, games of speed chess, television fame, and a chance for a real home. But for Clementine, it's not enough to be free when she knows that Rosie and the other mice are not. This tender, lively adventure story, narrated in letters from a mouse to a chimpanzee, shows us that goodness is something we have to define for ourselves--and that courage and wisdom aren't proportionate to size"--Provided by publisher.

The author relates her experiences in returning a group of laboratory chimpanzees to freedom in an animal preserve in Florida.

Explores the relationship between chimpanzees and humans, featuring photographs of the animals in the wild, in captivity, and in sanctuaries, and discussing the mistreatment and cruelties chimps have suffered at the hands of humans.

A pharmaceutical facility in Africa fronting as a preserve for once-captive chimps creates a species similar to early hominids, inadvertently putting the human race in danger as the newly formed creatures show their intelligence, territoriality, and brutal aggressiveness.

Discusses the animals originally sent up in space as experiments, and looks at currents projects being conducted on various plants and animals.

Describes the life of the chimpanzee that was sent into space as part of the American space program, describing his capture, training, the actual flight, and his life afterwards.