The short film follows residents in Bainbridge, Georgia, as they discover a laboratory animal breeding company’s horrifying plans which will turn their idyllic family town into a nightmare. 

A panel discussion follows the film. 

On December 11th 2023, a meeting was held in Bainbridge, a small town in South Georgia, where city officials voted to approve a beige planning application for an “agricultural house”.

The small print? The farm would house up to 30,000 monkeys who would be sold into painful and even fatal experiments. Bainbridge’s human population of just over 14,000 residents were now set to be outnumbered by monkeys 2:1. 

30,000 Monkeys in our Backyard is the unbelievable and shocking true story of the facility, told through personal accounts of the town’s residents, scientists and ex-monkey lab employees, and legal experts involved in ongoing lawsuits, as Bainbridge continues to navigate being on the frontlines of America’s controversial multi-billion-dollar animal testing industry.

The 25-minute documentary showcases Bainbridge’s diverse community who are united in their fight against the plans of Safer Human Medicine, the shadowy company with a history of controversy and animal welfare failings.

30,000 Monkeys in our Backyard is produced by Species Unite, a US-based media organization that highlights the issues facing animals today, and spotlights solutions on how to solve them.

Panelists:

Elizabeth Novogratz (Producer) – Founder and president of Species Unite, a nonprofit media organization dedicated to changing the narrative for animals. Elizabeth has also spent seven years hosting the Species United podcast, which shares the stories of the heroes working to improve the lives of animals across the globe.  As a writer, producer, founder, and creative, Elizabeth is committed to changing the story for animals. She fiercely believes in the power of helping us see what we’re not paying attention to in order to open our hearts and do better.

Amy Jones (Co-Director) – Amy Jones is an award-winning photojournalist and storyteller spotlighting urgent issues affecting animals and the environment. She has worked across ten countries to document the realities of the wildlife trade, intensive farming, and animal testing, while also exploring stories of sanctuary, hope, and resilience.  Amy’s photographs and stories have been in over 150 publications including, The Washington Post, CNN, and The Guardian. Her images have also informed and strengthened the campaigns of multiple animal advocacy organisations around the world. She is also a recipient of multiple awards including 2025’s Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation’s Environmental Photography Award, Siena International Photo Awards, MontPhoto International Nature Photography Contest, and more.  Through compelling visual storytelling, Amy seeks to reframe our perspective of animals as sentient beings with intrinsic value, and to inspire others to take action.

Dr. Lisa Jones-Engel – Dr. Lisa Jones-Engel is a primate scientist, Fulbright Scholar, and former biomedical research leader whose work has shaped global understanding of zoonotic disease risks and primate conservation. For decades, she led federally funded, high-impact, internationally research teams at the University of Washington, publishing nearly 100 peer-reviewed articles across primatology, virology, and global health.  From early fieldwork with endangered orangutans to decades spent inside primate research facilities, Dr. Jones-Engel has unique insight into both conservation and the biomedical industry. Now Senior Science Advisor at PETA, she uses that expertise to expose the failures of primate-based research and drive the transition toward ethical, human-relevant science.

Meredith Blanchard – Meredith Blanchard is the Senior Manager of Advocacy and Policy at the National Anti-Vivisection Society, where she focuses on initiatives that reduce the number of animals used in research and testing. She holds a B.S. in Zoology from Colorado State University and an M.S. in Animals and Public Policy from the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University.  With over a decade of experience in animal welfare and advocacy, Meredith has dedicated her career to advancing policies and shifting public attitudes to create a more humane world for all animals.