The Cle veland Amory Black Beauty Ranch in Murchison, Texas, is home to more than 1,200 rescued animals. There's Babe, the former circus elephant. There are Bebu and Kemu, the abandoned emus. Also sharing the ranch's 1,300 acres are bobcats, horses, burros, ostriches, camels, and a kangaroo—to name just a few.

And in one area of the ranch, playing in the green grass that grows in their large enclosure, are Midge, Kitty, and Lulu. Formerly kept in research laboratories, these three chimpanzees now spend their days relaxing. They can climb on tree branches, play tag with each other, and snack on their favorite treats. And though it's not the same as life in the wild, it's the next best thing.

Not So Lucky

Kitty, Midge, and Lulu are among the lucky chimpanzees living out their lives in a sanctuary. Many other chimps are far less fortunate. There are still about 1,200 chimps living in nine laboratories and research facilities across the country. Some were captured from the wild. Others were former pets or were used in the entertainment industry as actors or performers.

These chimps have spent years in labs, enduring painful experiments and testing. Today, scientists are increasingly realizing that testing on chimps isn't a good way to find cures for human diseases. This means most of the 1,200 chimps already in labs are no longer needed. Though now they rarely suffer through testing, they are still stuck in their cages day after day—and they can live to be 60 years old.

Read more about Kitty (above), Midge, and Lulu in the Critter Card Cutouts!

Chimps Deserve Better

Chimps are sensitive and smart. They feel happy, jealous, angry, and sad. They worry, tickle each other, and use tools. Some have even been trained to communicate using American Sign Language. No other animals are more like us. That's why we feel a special responsibility for chimpanzees.

Chimpanzees are best off in their natural habitats. But those raised by people, whether in zoos, medical laboratories, or as pets, can no longer survive in the wild. That's why we need sanctuaries like the Cleveland Amory Black Beauty Ranch. They provide a place for animals like these to live in safety, comfort, and peace.

Celebrate Chimps

● Caring for chimps takes a lot of money—and supplies. You can help Midge, Lulu, Kitty, and other chimps in sanctuaries by holding a "Help the Chimps" supply drive.

● Enter our Celebrate Chimps drawing contest. You could win a $500 savings bond!

● Dr. Jane Goodall has dedicated her life to studying chimpanzees and teaching others about these amazing animals. Read more about her!

● Help free chimpanzees from research labs. Ask your lawmakers to support the Great Ape Protection Act.

● Chimpanzees shouldn't be kept as pets. Not only is it unfair to the animal, it also puts people at risk of attack and disease. Ask your lawmakers to support the Captive Primate Safety Act, a law that would help stop the trade in chimpanzees and other primates as pets.