KENYA: Scientists intimidated by the growing wave of animal rights extremism in Europe are being offered a new home in Africa, free from the threat of violence.
Researchers in Britain, in particular, have warned that vital medical research is being dropped in the face of firebombs, intimidation and harassment.
But now the Institute of Primate Research in Nairobi is throwing open its doors to an expected exodus of researchers.
The move has angered animal welfare groups, which warn that western scientists must not be allowed to escape the rigorous ethical standards of their home countries.
Prof Emmanuel Wango, director of the institute, said: "Although we have for a long time collaborated with scientists from the West, the problems they are facing at home are making them consider strongly working with us."
Research using non-human primates is the most emotive area of animal research. Last year Cambridge University backed down from plans to build a primate research centre after security costs made the proposals uneconomic.
Prof Wango believes his country can help reverse the brain drain that took many of his contemporaries to the developed world, by offering world-class facilities free from the atmosphere of intimidation that exists in Europe and the United States.
He says he has the names of 25 Swedish researchers who are ready to move to Kenya and is working with British institutions to identify more.
His facility in the leafy, expat enclave of Karen already houses more than 400 baboons and vervet monkeys.
Jean Gilchrist, of the Kenya Society for the Protection and Care of Animals, said she was concerned European researchers may be attracted by lower costs and a more relaxed legislative framework.
"We are not happy with this proposal," she said. "If animal experiments are to be done - and we believe that alternatives should be used when possible - then these should be very, very strictly controlled. There simply aren't the controls in place here at the moment."
September saw a series of violent attacks aimed at derailing animal research in the UK.
Animal rights extremists have admitted firebombing the home of a Glaxosmithkline executive and an Oxford University building. A chain of nurseries was forced to withdraw a childcare scheme it ran for staff of Huntingdon Life Sciences - long the focus of an intense anti-vivisection campaign - after its directors received threatening letters.