For several hours, in silence, a group of chimpanzees, with dark aspect and sad look, circulates the body of dear friend who has just died unexpectedly struck by a heart attack.

I have witnessed this kind of scene, each one with their differences, and it is amazing to see how chimpanzees respect their dead ones and do not conform to the unexpected departure of someone.

The  scene previously described happened in the largest chimpanzee sanctuary of the planet, Save the Chimps, after the death of Renquist, a dear and beloved 24-year-old male chimpanzee.

Renquist was born in the North American Air Force Base Holloman, in Alamogordo, New Mexico, on February 13, 1991. He was taken from his parents, George and Kitty, with little more than a year old, and suffered the first impact of being a prisoner in the hands of humans without conscience.

At the sanctuary, he was placed in a youth group, which included Roger, who was his friend until his death. He was anesthetized several times a year to evaluation of his health, but it is not known if he was included in some medical torture program, as it was usual at the time, or in traumatic experiences at that Base, where many chimpanzees died in absurd tests.

When the Air Force ended up torturing chimpanzees, they were sent to an even worse Center, the Coulston Foundation. But the luck of Renquist turned dramatically in September 2002, when Save the Chimps Sanctuary bought the broken facilities of the Foundation with more than 200 chimpanzees tortured inside it.

In Florida, he initially stayed with Bobby’s group, but ended in the group where his friend Roger was. Roger helped him in the integration with the other members.

Renquist was a chimpanzee who courted females, whom he followed and spent most of his time in the outdoor area of ​​the island. In the end, he first set foot on the grass when he was over 10 years old.

Renquist was very well liked by his handlers, who were very affected by his sudden death, as it looked like he was in excellent health state. Even in that chimpanzees surprise us. Roger and his group still mourn his death.

Dr. Pedro A. Ynterian

President, GAP Project International