Eight chimpanzees destined for a new life in Kent are forced to remain in a US laboratory while animal rights campaigners fight the move.

Wingham Wildlife Park has a purpose-built £1.5million enclosure ready for the apes, which were born and bred in a research centre in the state of Georgia.

US authorities have signed off on the move and world-renowned chimp expert Dame Jane Goodall has given her blessing.

However, the New England Anti-Vivisection Society campaign group has filed a second legal suit opposing the relocation to Wingham.

Its members say the wildlife park has no history of housing chimps and that a sanctuary in the US would be more suitable.

But park curator Markus Wilder said: “We have a history of providing homes for animals that have not come from a zoo background.

“We have the facilities, expertise and love to give these animals a home for life. This includes lions from a French circus as well as common marmosets from a research centre.”

The eight chimps, called Fritz, Lucas, Georgia, Tara, Abby, Agatha, Elvira and Faye, are being held at the Yerkes research centre near Atlanta.

According to Yerkes’ website, the centre’s research includes the study of microbiology, immunology, infectious diseases and transplantation.

Yerkes has been in talks with Wingham to rehouse the eight chimps.

Last month we reported how Dame Jane had visited the park and heaped praise on the 12,700 sq ft enclosure, built especially to house the animals.

“The staff there are well-qualified, caring and have already visited the Yerkes research centre to meet the members of the group,” she said.

“The owners are committed to ensuring the long-term care of these chimpanzees and to enriching their lives.”

But the NEAVS campaign group remains unconvinced.

It first filed a lawsuit in November against the decision of the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to grant a permit for the cross-Atlantic transfer.

The USFWS put the relocation on hold for more public consultation, but this week rubber-stamped the move for a second time.

It has sparked yet another legal challenge from protesters, who say: “Providing the chimpanzees with sanctuary in the USA is, we believe, preferable to shipping these animals, who have already been subjected to distressing research and confinement, to Wingham where they will face commercial exhibition.

“Furthermore, Wingham Wildlife Park has no history of housing chimpanzees, is not part of a chimpanzee species survival program, and is not accredited by any European zoological association.”

Mr Wilder said that the team at Wingham were ready to provide “the best home” for the chimps.

“In the UK, it is not a requirement to be accredited by a third-party zoo association,” he said.

“What is most important is that we are fully licensed by the strict zoo licensing regulations of the UK government.”