"It was a long, hard fight getting to this day, but seeing the chimpanzees so happy makes every minute of that struggle worthwhile," said the sanctuary's Director Carole Noon, as she watched her new charges. "I am grateful to everyone who helped make this possible, especially the Doris Day Animal League and the Arcus Foundation."

The chimpanzees are the survivors and descendants of America's space program. Originally used to test the safety of the Mercury capsules prior to manned flights, the chimpanzees were leased to research labs once they were no longer needed by the U.S. Air Force.

Goodall and other animal advocates fought since 1997 to retire the chimpanzees to a sanctuary. The group consists of 14 females and 7 males ranging in age from nine to 40 years old.

"We are relieved and happy that these 21 chimpanzees are under Dr. Noon's care now. We know they will finally get the life they deserve," said Holly Hazard, director of the Doris Day Animal League. That group, based in Washington, D.C., is one organization that helped to establish the Sanctuary.

"But, we haven't forgotten about the hundreds of others who sit in tiny cages day after day. They deserve retirement, too," she said.

Noon said she was thrilled to welcome all the primates, including "Lil' Mini," who celebrated her ninth birthday at the sanctuary.

"She was the center of our rallying cry during all of this, because her mom, Minnie, was the oldest of the Air Force colony, and Lil' Mini, who had been born into captivity, was the youngest," Noon said.

"We had hoped the two of them would finally be retired to our sanctuary together, but sadly, Mini died of old age before we could get her out of the lab," Noon said. "I'm sure she would be happy knowing her daughter is living a better life than she was allowed to."