[video at "full story" link]

Mowgli, a young rhesus macaques, was transferred to University Medical Center from the University of Connecticut in October 2006, where he was the only one of three monkeys to survive a controversial research experiment.

Protesters were mostly silent in Jackson Monday, but their signs spoke volumes. Their goal is to save one monkey, Mowgli, from what they say is a certain death at UMC.

"Mowgli will not be able to leave alive unless we save him," said Memphis area animal rights activist, Brenda Bostick.

The activists say Mowgli will face invasive, traumatic experiments on his brain and eyes at UMC, this after suffering abuse at another research lab at the University of Connecticut. It was shut down amid a federal investigation.

"He had a choke collar made out of chain link and it was tightened so tight that his eyes bled," Bostick said.

Activists have raised enough money to cover the cost of transporting Mowgli to an animal sanctuary. But UMC has no plans to hand him over.

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full story: http://www.wtok.com/news/headlines/6091101.html

Group seeks info on UMC�s animal research

By Leah Rupp
leah.rupp@clarionledger.com

A Cincinnati-based animal-rights activist group has filed a public records request with the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Mississippi.

The request, filed by Michael Budkie, director of Stop Animal Exploitation Now!, asks for copies of primate research protocol, as well as records of those housed there and what experimentation they have undergone including photos, DVDs or video tapes.

Several protesters gathered Monday on the State Street sidewalk in front of UMC calling for the release of a monkey currently being held there.

The monkey, an 8-year-old macaque named Mowgli, had been at the University of Connecticut before coming to UMC in October.

The monkey and at least two others were involved in a controversial research project at UConn�s Health Center. The other monkeys are dead.

Activists want Mowgli released to an animal sanctuary.

UConn student Justin Goodman said, "We hope that the administration recognizes that Mowgli has experienced insurmountable grief and trauma and chooses to exercise some compassion."

In a written statement issued in early January, UMC officials said the monkey "is in excellent health ... Like all animals owned by the Medical Center, he receives daily care by a well-trained veterinary staff."

That statement still stands, public information officers at the university said today.