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Alamogordo Primate Facility This record for Ritchie Chimpanzee, id#4421, was obtained thru a FOIA request to the Department of Health and Human Services. Ritchie was born August 11, 1981 and was found dead in his cell on January 14, 2004 from what was determined to be an accidental electrocution. Records indicate Ritchie was a carrier for HCV and negative for HBV. Reports received from DHHS indicate the following: "Three healthy adult male chimpanzees from adjacent dens died suddenly. Necropsies, performed shortly after the time of death, did not determine an obvious cause of death. Because of the similar circumstances of the deaths and their proximity in both time and location, it was speculated that the animals were electocuted. Two platforms on the common wall were found to be carrying enough voltage to cause cardiac arrest if another metal object were contacted simultaneously. Video records verified that, immediately before collapse, one of the chimpanzees touched the cage mesh while sitting on a platform."
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