#project nim

by M. Doherty 11/28/2015 Borrowed Planet Blog

              The Federal Bureau of Investigations (the FBI) has been in the business of tracking crime and animal abuse in the last few year.  However recent developments have caused the FBI to begin tracking animal cruelty nationally in 2016 that will not only underscore the link between  crime and animal cruelty but also assist law enforcement agencies in preventing crime.

              The FBI has been keeping track of animal-related crimes of abuse and neglect etcetera.  However none of the information was streamlined into a database that would allow law enforcement officials to track when animal cruelty occurs, how it occurs and whether such occurrences increase.  This data cold potentially show a link between animal abuse and other forms of violent crime.  Research has suggested that a link exists between these crimes.  Baltimore County prosecutor Adam Lippe handles animal cruelty cases in his work.  “In animal abuse,” he sates, “you have total power over the animal.  If you're willing to exert that [power] in a cruel, malicious and vicious way, then you're likely to do that to people, too, who don't have power, like children and vulnerable adults.  It's an issue of a lack of empathy.” 

              In addition, witnessing animal abuse an neglect can desensitize children to violence and impede their ability to develop empathy towards others.  There has been a history of animal abuse in the lives of murderers and serial killers such as Jeffrey Dahmer and David Berkowitz for example.  Due to the close ties between animal cruelty and violence towards others, staff at the FBI and those whom work closely with the agency have advocated for the change for many years.  One such advocate is deputy executive director of the National Sherriff's Association John Thompson.  Some decades ago, Mr. Thompson stated that law enforcement officials now look for evidence of animal cruelty in their crime investigations. 

              The change in data collection will begin in January of 2016, however, John Thompson states that it will be five to six years before there is enough data to verify and analyze trends in animal cruelty and violent crime.  Until now, the FBI would record animal related crimes into a “catch-all” category of crime data in the FBI's National Incident Based Reporting System.  This reporting system collects information and reports on crimes from police departments across the United States.  This crime reporting program is used by law enforcement, criminologists and researchers in their work every day. It is believed that the changes in data reporting on animal cruelty and neglect cases will allow law enforcement to prevent violence crime (such as child and spousal abuse) before they occur.  The FBI will categorize these animal abuse crimes as a “crime against society” dividing these incidents into four categories:  intentional abuse, organized abuse (dog fighting etcetera), neglect, and sexual abuse.  The increased awareness of the FBI on the behalf of animals in these crimes will hopefully encourage the public to continue reporting these incidences to police and in turn encourage police to treat these incidences as important to crime prevention (The Bellingham Herald).

              Additionally, the United States Congress is currently considering H.R. 2293 and S. 1831, also known as The Prevent Animal Cruelty and Torture Act (PACT Act).  This is the nation's first even animal cruelty bill which, if enacted into law, would empower the Federal Bureau of Investigations to prosecute animal abuse cases across state lines.  Remarkably, this bill was written by a bipartisan team of Congress people.  Former House Judiciary Committee chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX), senior Judiciary Committee member Ted Deutch (D-FL) and Congressional Animal Protection Caucus leader Earl Blumenauer (D_OR) cowrote the bill.  They are joined in sponsorship by Trent Franks (R-AZ), Steve Chabot (R-OH), former US Attorney Patrick Meehan (R-Pennsylvania), and animal protection leaders and senior committee members Jerold Nadler (D-NY) and Steve Cohen (D-TN).  First introduced on May 13, 2015, the bill is now awaiting consideration and a vote by the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security and Investigations.  This Subcommittee is chaired by Representative James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) and vice chaired by Representative Louie Gohmert (R-TX).  Representative Sensenbrenner has been in Congress since 1979 and has only missed 340 of the over 21,000 roll call votes in his career – or 1.5% of them.  This is quite an accomplishment for someone with such an extensive career in Congress.  His track record on voting in favor of environmental protection legislation is not great however.  For example, in 2011, Representative Sensenbrenner voted for H.R. 2021, The Jobs and Energy Permitting Act.  This bill that would expand offshore drilling at great risk to the environment.  He was joined in his vote to approve this measure by 25 other Democratic senators whom also voted to approve H.R. 2021 which passed the House in 2011 (Thatsmycongress.com, The Huffington Post). 

              In light of the reality that a Republican controlled Congress statistically is not supportive of environmental legislation, The Prevent Animal Cruelty and Torture Act comes at a precarious time in our Congressional history.  Despite bi-partisan support, there is no guarantee that this bill will pass into law.  It is imperative that those whom support environmental protections, support animal rights and whom support crime prevention to contact the members of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security and Investigations.  Please write to your legislators and urge them to approve the PACT Act.        

              The changes to the animal abuse related crimes by the FBI will allow law enforcement to better prevent violence crime.  The correlation between animal abuse and violent crime has become increasingly more evident, and in response the calls for the FBI to streamline animal abuse cases and track information have finally been answered.  Once the animal abuse crime information becomes categorized in the FBI's National Incident Based Reporting System, law enforcement officials and researchers will be able to access that data in their work.  This information will assist those in law enforcement in protecting the public and preventing crime.  The introduction of the PACT Act will assist the FBI in this data collection and in crime prevention for law enforcement officials throughout the country.  Please advocate for this bill by contacting Congress and your elected officials and tell them to approve the PACT Act.

  Sources:

  The Bellingham Herald, “FBI To Begin Tracking Animal Cruelty,” by Alison Knezevich for The Baltimore Sun, November 28, 2015.

  “Breaking News: Key Lawmakers Propose Federal Anti-Cruelty Measure,” by The Huffington Post Blog, posted May 14, 2015; http://www.huffingtonpost.com/wayne-pacelle/breaking-news-key-lawmake_b_7283420.html

  “H.R. 2021- Jobs and Energy Permitting Act of 2011” and “H.R. 2293 – Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act,” Congress.gov staff; posted 2011 and 2015; https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-bill/2021/all-actions?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22%5C%22hr2021%5C%22%22%5D%7D&resultIndex=3

and https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/2293/all-actions

by, M. Doherty 11/28/2015 Borrowed Planet Blog

              Over the Thanksgiving weekend I checked out some DVD's from the local library to entertain me until the holiday was over.  One of these DVD's was the documentary film Project NIM, a film by HBO chronicling the life of Nim, a research chimpanzee.  The film follows Nim's life from his initial birth in captivity to his final days in a sanctuary for abused animals.

              Elizabeth Hess' book “Nim Chimpsky: The Chimp Who Would e Human” is the basis for this film by James Marsh, the director of the award winning “Man On Wire.”  The film opens in 1973 with the birth of Nim in captivity at the Institute For Primate Studies in Oklahoma.  At two weeks old, Nim is removed from his mother's care and given to a woman and her family.  The purpose of this separation was to conduct a landmark experiment in the world of psychological research: can a chimpanzee (a species much like human beings in genetic makeup) be taught to communicate and live as a human being if raised by human beings?  It's the nature versus nurture argument.  Once Nim was successfully removed from his mother he was transplanted to a brownstone apartment in a trendy New York City neighborhood.  Under the observation of Columbia psychology professor Herb Terrace, Nim became the adopted “son” of Stephanie LaFarge, a former student of Professor Terrace.

              Thus began Nim's new life – his “human” life.  The documentary shows amazing archival photographs and video footage of Nim playing with his new family.  He engages with them in a way that would indicate that he was happy and adjusting to life as a “human.”  However, on several occasions Nim's natural instincts would kick in – and cause a lot of damage to his human family.  Stephanie's husband was seen as competition to Nim.  In the wild, chimpanzee males compete for dominance, especially for the attention of potential females.  Nim often bit Stephanie's husband, destroyed his collection of books, and destroys furniture.  Oddly, even though a key part of the experiment was teaching Nim sign language, the LaFarge family was learning sign language with Nim. 

               In light of the difficulty that Stephanie and her family had in teaching Nim to sign, Professor Terrace  decides to bring in an additional Columbia student Laura Petitto to help with the experiment.  Clashes between how best to work with Nim lead to Laura and Professor Terrace moving to Delafield Estate, a beautiful Riverdale mansion owned by Columbia University.  At this point Nim has grown in size and strength, and he became increasingly difficult to control.  He was learning dozens of new signs, but research was indicating that Nim was not necessarily learning to communicate in the same manner that humans do.  For example, there was a cat living with the researchers at Delafield about whom Nim had a great curiosity.  He would sign “cat” “Nim” “give me” but not observational sentences like, “That's a really cute cat” or questions such as “where did you get your cute cat?”  Instead Professor Terrace saw Nim using sign to manipulate his human researchers and get his way.  This behavior was also observed in other instances.  Nim was taught to use the sign for “dirty” to indicate when he needed to use the toilet (a part of his behavioral education).  He began using the sign “dirty” to make his human researchers take him out of the enclosed classroom and into the house where he would escape their grasp and run off. 

              As Nim passes from researchers to sign language teachers, he continues to exhibit his chimpanzee instincts rather than the human behaviors he is being taught.  He attacks his researchers, biting and scratching them.  In interviews throughout the documentary his human researchers discuss the various wounds and number of stitches on their arms.  One teacher, certified sign-language interpreter Renee Falitz is attacked by Nim.  He bites through her cheek, sending her to the emergency room for stitches.  By now the media knows of Nim and the research that was being conducted at Delafield.  If word would spread to the general public about Nim attacking his researchers, Professor Terrace feared that the public and the university would turn on them and their research.  Professor Terrace also mentions (rather coldly) he feared the possibility of being sued by one of the teachers.  After Falitz chooses to leave Delafield, the experiment is ended.  Nim is sent to a new home.

              Although the new home is not so new.  Nim is transported back to the Institute for Primate Research in Oklahoma.  He is not reunited with his mother however.  He also is no longer in the home environment to which he has become accustomed.  Rather he now lives in a cage and subjected to different experiments under the supervision of Dr. James Mahoney, research veterinarian at the institute.  The institute is cold and unfeeling.  Nim is exposed to other chimpanzees for the first time – an encounter that scares him as he is not used to other chimpanzees.  These fellow research chimpanzees do not sign.  Neither do the research scientists.  Unable to communicate and kept  confined, Nim's life reaches it's lowest point.  However there is one source of happiness for Nim in this grim environment: Bob Ingersoll, a research staff member at the institute.  Bob could sign and related to Nim as a chimp (as best he could) rather than trying to make Nim into a human.  Bob and Nim share a remarkable friendship.  The play together, smoke marijuana together, go on walks together.  It is in these times that Nim appears to be the happiest – being a chimp with his friend who allows him to be a chimp.  Nim never bites or attacks Bob.  Bob states that his experiences with Nim were, “the most fun of his life” and that he “loved that little guy.” 

              Bob also recognizes that Nim is in a terrible environment.  He and fellow researcher Alyce Moore try to work with Dr. Mahoney to make Nim's life better in any way possible.  Drawing the ire of their employer, Bob and Alyce enlist the help of lawyer Henry Herrmann to make a legal argument for Nim's release.  Mr. Herrmann decides that he is going to bring a habeas corpus case on behalf of Nim, whom will testify to the court with the help of a sign-language interpreter.  The judge stated no such mockery would be made of his courtroom.  When the Institute for Primate Research closed due to dwindling funds, Nim was sold to Cleveland Armory the owner of Black Beauty Ranch in Texas.  While the Institute and Dr. Mahoney were able to avoid public outcry against the use of Nim as a research subject, Nim's life was not improved by his move to Texas.

              Black Beauty Ranch is a sanctuary for hooved animals whom have been subjected to abuse and neglect.  Intended to allow equine animals a loving environment in which to run free and interact, the sanctuary was not suited for a chimpanzee.  Nim was kept confined in an enclosed area specially built for him.  While he had a lot of toys and a climbing apparatus, he was lonely and listless.  The photographs and archival video footage of Nim from this time show a bored chimpanzee, wandering his cage in circles, sitting for hours staring off into space, and pushing large objects around aimlessly.  He also displays great outbursts of anger.  He throws a television at the wall and destroys it.  He throws tires and other large objects (like oil barrels), causing loud crashing sounds.  He makes instinctual grunts and other sounds to show his anger to his captors.  He also manages to get out of the cage on several occasions.  In one incident, Nim gets into the family home and throws the poodle against the wall.  While he only intended to stop the dog from barking, his now immense strength still gets the better of him.  Bob Ingersoll begins to advocate for Nim to Cleveland Armory.  In addition to being an animal rights activist, Mr. Armory is also a state trooper.  His response to Bob's repeated appeals was straightforward as a Texas man can get: if you come here you will be arrested. 

              Stephanie LaFarge suddenly comes back into the picture.  She and her daughter visit Nim in Texas.  Despite Nim's displayed aggression and aggravation at the sight of his human mother, Stephanie boldly enters Nim's cage.  In spite of her efforts to lovingly approach the chimpanzee, Nim grabs her ankle and begins dragging her around the enclosure.  While Stephanie states she does not remember the attack in specifics, her daughter can offer plenty – including the decision to grab a gun in case they were unsuccessful in rescuing Stephanie.  Eventually Nim does let go of this surrogate mother, and Stephanie is successfully removed from Nim's cage.  In a shocking display of level headedness and forgiveness, Stephanie states that she holds no grudges against Nim for the attack.  She states that Nim was making a statement: that she could not just walk back into his life 20 years after abandoning him and expect everything to be OK between them.  “But,” she states Nim, “would not kill” her. 

            Nim had also attacked Laura Petitto years prior, as well as Professor Terrace.  However the difference between those who were attacked by Nim and could continue working with him and those who could not was the returned display of dominance.  Chimpanzee's compete with each other for dominance, as previously explained.  Professor Terrace and other teachers were able to keep their control in their interactions with Nim because they could meet his aggressions with aggressions.  While archival footage shows, for example, Bill Tynan, pushing Nim off of him rather roughly, these are behaviors you have to demonstrate with chimpanzees in order to maintain not just control but protect yourself from their animal instincts.  Bob Ingersoll states that he believes he experienced no such aggressive behaviors from Nim because he was “pure of heart” and approached Nim on Nim's level.  He states that this is important because Nim's animal instincts could read a person and any “darkness” in you would prevent Nim from trusting you. 

              During this same period Dr. Mahoney's is still conducting research with chimpanzees.  He is now working in New York City at the LEMSIP, an New York University affiliated research facility.  When LEMSIP closes in 1995, Dr. Mahoney decides to move his chimpanzee research subjects to Texas to join Nim at the Black Beauty Ranch.  Two chimpanzees, Mitch and Lulu, join Nim in his enclosure.  For the second time in his life, Nim is exposed to the company of other chimpanzees.  This time however, the introductions go much more smoothly and the three become fast friends.

              Chimpanzees are naturally social animals.  While male chimpanzees will leave the care of their mothers once they reach adulthood, female chimpanzees are known to stay with their mother's in groups throughout their lives.  Regardless of gender, chimpanzees are rarely on their own – preferring to remain in groups with one alpha male guarding over the others.  Infant chimpanzees are raised socially with other chimpanzees.  However the responsibility for the care of the chimpanzee falls on their mother.  Should a chimpanzee be orphaned for some reason, it's rare that another female chimpanzee will adopt that orphan.  Chimpanzees learn survival and communication from their mother's and develop their natural instincts to their advantage under the tutelage of these groups of chimpanzees.  Nim has had none of this instinctual development. 

              Rather, Nim has experienced life as closely to that of a human as possible.  He has been brought up to believe he is a human and behave as a human in an effort to circumvent his natural chimpanzee instincts.  Has this experiment been successful?  Professor Herb Terrace reveals that should he have the opportunity to conduct this research again, he would not choose to participate.  He states he now believes that the research and treatment of Nim during the research was inhumane.  Dr. Mahoney echoes these statements, later condemning the research practices at both the Institute for Primate Research in Texas and LEMSIP in New York.

              Why, one might ask, would any research scientist want to use animal behavioral testing as a part of their research?  The answer might lie in the time period of Nim's life.  American culture was vastly different in the 1970s and 1980s than now, and scientific research on animals was not uncommon.  In fact the animal rights and environmentalist movements were just getting started at the time.  The initial public response to the articles about Nim in New York Magazine are of curiosity, interest and amazement at the research being conducted.  This was landmark psychological research!  To this day the findings of the research conducted with Nim are discussed by psychology students throughout the academic world.  Rather than vilifying these people for working with Nim, the characters in the documentary are presented with a balance of fact and sympathy.  Their love for Nim is never doubted but the documentary doesn't bombard you with crying people.  Director James Marsh presents his subject from an objective viewpoint – not trying to sway the viewing audience in any bias for or against one of the characters in the film.  You don't leave the film hating Dr. Mahoney or resenting Professor Terrace.  Rather you see the full circle of Nim's life and with it the journey of these characters from ignorance of animal research to a deeper understanding of their actions.

              In the last years on Nim's life, Black Beauty Ranch is sold to a new proprietor.  The new management allows Bob Ingersoll to visit his old friend.  After ten years, Nim recognizes Bob and the two pick up where they left off.  Bob continues to visit Nim and sees increasing success in the rekindling of their friendship.  Nim's overall attitude improves thanks to his interactions with his new friends.  The last five years of his life are seemingly the happiest.  Nim dies of a heart attack in May of 2000 at the age of 26.  His early death is attributed to his terrible diet in his early years of life – which had included pizza and sugary foods unsuitable for a chimpanzee.  Nim's life was in no way natural, but in every way extraordinary.

Projeto Nim (Project Nim, 2011), de James Marsh.

O filme conta a história de um macaco que foi ensinado durante toda a sua vida a se comunicar por meio da linguagem de sinais. Ele nasceu em 1973 e foi tirado de sua mãe logo depois de nascer. O chimpanzé foi então amamentado por uma mulher e criado como um ser humano. Com cinco anos de idade, o seu "vocabulário" já tinha mais de 120 palavras.

Project Nim foi dirigido pelo britânico James Marsh, que na época chegou a dizer que fazer o filme modificou a sua maneira de ver a inteligência e a sensibilidade dos animais.

Marsh afirmou que o longa não tem uma pauta específica, mas espera que seu documentário possa propor uma atitude mais respeitosa em relação aos animais.

animals in films | @animalsinfilms

(Source: Box Cinematografico)