NHP Housing Survey for Animal Care

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is charged with the enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). The AWA requires the USDA to oversee implementation of the requirements of the AWA.

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is a branch of the USDA. APHIS inspectors are supposed to visit facilities to determine whether they are complying with the AWA.

Animal Care (AC) is the branch of APHIS directly responsible for inspecting and enforcing the AWA.

In 1985, Congress amended the AWA to require that standards be established to promote the psychological well-being of nonhuman primates in zoos, laboratories and other facilities.

Animal Care conducted a national survey of the housing of primates in the United States between October 1, 2000 and August 31, 2001. The results of this survey have been closely guarded by USDA/APHIS and have yet to be released to the public.

The data below is a summary based on verbatim data produced by the survey.

Click here for the Fall 2000 NHP Housing Survey for Animal Care