Harvard Medical School yesterday denied an allegation launched by an animal rights group that it failed to report another monkey death at its New England Primate Research Center.

In a March 20 letter to the U. S. Department of Agriculture, Michael Budkie, executive director of the Ohio-based animal rights organization Stop Animal Exploitation Now, says that a whistleblower connected to the center revealed details of a non-reported death at the facility.

Budkie said the whistleblower told him that a monkey died about seven months ago after a center employee performed a fairly routine medical procedure.

This can only mean that this procedure was clearly botched, and that the negligence which caused this cost the animal his/her life, Budkie wrote.

Budkie called for a thorough investigation of the death and for Harvard to be fined the maximum amount allowed by law. Individual violations of the Animal Welfare Act are punishable by fines of up to $10,000.

USDA spokesman Dave Sacks said yesterday that the complaint will be investigated in accordance with standard procedure.

We will do so by sending an inspector to this facility in the near future to conduct an inspection, he wrote in an email, adding that inspections are always unannounced so the exact date cannot be disclosed.

Suffice it to say, that because of the recent incidents at Harvards primate research center, it will be soon, he wrote. We will continue to closely monitor this facility by visiting more frequently as a way to monitor Harvards progress and ensure the welfare of the animals there.

Harvard self-reported a death at the facility that occurred on Feb. 26 the same day details of a separate monkey death came out in a USDA inspection report.

Four monkeys have died at the facility in the past two years, and three of those deaths have occurred since September. Fred Wang, who became interim director of the center in September, stepped down from the post shortly after the fourth death was announced, citing personal and professional reasons.

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Animal activist group files complaint against Primate Center