A handful of protestors gathered outside of the Hendry County Courthouse Tuesday over the increasing number of primate breeding facilities coming to the county.
Protestors are concerned about recent reports of a new primate facility in Hendry County. This is the county’s fourth such facility. The company, BioCulture, is setting up on land already used for primate breeding.
The protestors want the governor and other state officials to investigate for possible violations of Sunshine Law.
Bobbie Henderson of North Fort Myers said no public notice or meetings were given about the expansion.
County officials have said in the past that primate breeding is considered a kind of agriculture, and does not require public meetings.
Henderson opposes using primates for testing.
“These animal experiments are outdated. They’re archaic as a crank telephone and they need to stop and we need transparency in government,” Henderson said.
In a press release, Hendry County said it issued building permits for the project as recently as 2014.
Another facility under construction in Hendry County is also taking fire. An animal rights group filed suit against the county in November over how that facility was approved.
