The auditorium was full. Diplomatic Representations of European countries, such as Holland and Germany, were present. From Africa, representation of Angola and Guinea-Bissau could not be missed. To them were added the Carmo family, friends, journalists and great apes and environment defenders. Galveias Palace, in central Lisbon, became a field where people only spoke about our brothers apes, so ignored by the developed world and even by scientists who should be committed to their survival.

We met Mario Carmo personally at that night. We had exchanged some messages and attempts of collaboration, some successfully, such as the transfer of chimpanzee Bongo to Brazil, and other that failled, such as the transfer of nearly a dozen chimpanzees from Luanda, in an operation solidly supported by the Angolan government, but unfeasible by those who at the time – a few years ago – dominated the industry of fauna at Brazilian Environment Institute (IBAMA), which turned its back to our country and to our brother apes.

Mario Carmo owns a life story that would make another book, due to his participation  in the construction of the independence of Angola, when there were few white men after Portugal freed the country of their colonial system.  Mario left his family in Portugal, and, as an Angolan, joined the black population, to continue his work of administration of railways in that country.

However, the civil war caught him and he had to fight to survive. He finished up building a beverage industry, which filled a vacuum in Angola needs. There was a time he had 250 employees and a diversified production, which the Angolan people much appreciated.

At the same time, now with his family – wife, two daughters and two sons -, he began his struggle for the preservation of nature and wildlife of the country. The misery devastated Angola, and the animals were a source of survive. In Luanda market, every week some baby chimpanzees were offered for selling. He used to guard to avoid it to happen. When he could not avoid it, he bought them. It was the case of Bongo and Chimba. They were the reasons of the book, now in its second edition, launched in Lisbon and briefly in Angola, which tells a story very familiar in that continent.

When they were babies, he decided to take them to his home in Portugal, where he could give them a better life. Faced with the chaos reigning, he practically smuggled both in two trips. It was the only way, at that time, to save their lives.

Mario had bought a house on the edge of a hill, with a wide panorama on the outskirts of Lisbon. Surrounded by gardens and nature, Chimba, a bonobo, and Bongo, a chimpanzee Troglodytes, lived there for eight years, with the happiness of a family that loved them and with many dogs, rescued, who accompanied them.

Complaints from neighbors led environment police to the home. Bongo and Chimba knew of the danger and kept quiet, not to be found until the danger passed. However, the situation was unsustainable. Mario decided to negotiate with the authorities the transfer of chimpanzees. Initially for Baduca Park, an  animal Safari, but a suitable location was needed.

The environment technicians of the time, interpreting a law that did not meet the reality of the Great Apes, demanded the separation of both, since Chimba was a bonobo and Bongo, a Troglodytes. Today we would be able to defend them from that absurd decision. Bonobos are so Troglodytes as chimpanzees are bonobos. Both species were created by radical species prejudice, which invaded biology years ago and put in doubt Linnaeus, creator of Animal Taxonomy, which qualified – as a visionary – all chimpanzees as Homo troglodytes.

Zoos in Germany were desperate to catch Chimba a bonobo who, at that time, began a reproductive phase, and someone even suggested killing Bongo, if they could not find a destination for him, so Chimb could be free of his companionship.

Mario had to obey. The law was mandatory. He could not stay with the primates. He only required that both were separated on the same day. After anesthetized, both would go to a different destination. Bongo for Brazil and Chimba to Germany. And so it happened.

The story does not end here either. New chapters are to come. Stay tuned in the coming days about the speculation of what might happen and the reasons why.

Mario Carmo is a fighter for the fauna of Angola; his wife, who died recently after months of suffering, was his great support. She – Lili – as one of their daughters, who follows their footsteps, was the great mother of all animals that crossed into their path.

Mario is more than 80 years old, but he has the vitality, enthusiasm and strength that many young people do not have. He is a man committed to the fight for the survival of great apes and all the fauna of his country and Africa.  GAP Project welcomes him with open arms as its representative in Portugal and Angola, which will never be better represented than now on.

Dr. Pedro A. Ynterian

President, GAP Project International