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Heart issues at #ProjectChimps. A thread. Imagine going to your dr and your BP is around 200/100 like Ray here. Avg BP is 120/80 and it’s about the same in #chimps. Now imagine your dr says “that’s potentially deadly, but we’re not going to treat it & will recheck in 5 yrs.” 1/5
Many chimps at Project Chimps have dangerously high BP, based on their pre-transport physical when they leave the lab. Kyrstin, only 9, was 160/111. PC does does not monitor or treat hypertension, despite heart disease being the leading cause of death in captive chimps. 2/5
Project Chimps will only do physicals every 5 yrs. Chimps at increased risk of heart failure are ticking time bombs, like Jill (213/127), pictured here. #Training for blood pressure is easy & done at many other #sanctuaries. A portable machine/finger cuff is used. 3/5
Why are chimps with known hypertension, like Jill, Josh, Kareem, Ray, Lindsey and Kyrstin not being treated? I personally trained them to cooperate for a finger cuff to collect awake readings. This video shows Kareem early in his training. His pre-transport BP was 142/103. 4/5
PC’s supporters should ask questions. Chimps with hypertension, like Josh (169/118) are at risk of death from heart failure or stroke, or daily discomfort at best. Project Chimps is the only chimpanzee sanctuary not treating hypertension. Why is that? #chimpsdeservebetter 5/5
