Research Chimps Are Being Released For Retirement | Seeker by The Verge

After 34 years in research, chimpanzee Kirk and his nine group mates from the lab had their first chance to go outside into a forest at the Project Chimps sanctuary in the Blue Ridge Mountains. After lives in the lab, many research chimps are afraid to step outside. The forest seems like a big, scary place and even dirt can be unfamiliar. Kirk is a strong alpha chimp, hence his nickname "Captain Kirk." But would he be strong enough to lead his group outside? Watch as this special day unfolds for

Hundreds of research chimps are still stuck in labs despite a promise of retirement to sanctuaries by the NIH. What's the delay? The agency says it's complicated: http://cnn.it/1KGgL7X | CNN