The dispute centers on a nine-month investigation conducted by the advocacy group between August 2024 and May 2025. Documentation from the facility captured macaques confined to barren cages, many exhibiting repetitive stereotypic behaviors and struggling with water control protocols. Footage also showed primates with blood-encrusted cranial implants, including one instance where an animal managed to dislodge its own hardware. Despite these findings, the university stated on August 12 that it remains committed to its current research trajectory.
York University Defends Primate Research Amidst Mounting Protest
York University has rejected calls for dialogue regarding its neuroscience program, citing clearance from the Canadian Council on Animal Care. The university’s stance arrives after months of public pressure following undercover footage from Last Chance for Animals that revealed nine macaques enduring isolation, restraint, and painful cranial implant complications.
Chris DeRose, founder and president of Last Chance for Animals, condemned the university's refusal to meet, arguing that bureaucratic clearances do not negate the physical suffering recorded by investigators. The organization is now demanding transparency from the CCAC regarding how the research program met national standards of care. With over 14,000 messages sent to university officials and sustained monthly protests in Toronto, activists are maintaining their push to have the surviving macaques relocated to a sanctuary.
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