Bicco discovers a new life

posted in 23 Jul 2013

Caged chimpanzees, who never set foot on the grass, looked at the blue sky, wet their feet walking on damp ground or contemplated birds flying around it, practically lived a meaningless life.

This is the case of Bicco. We reproduce here the report of Dr. Sandra Haluche, veterinary at Paraná Sanctuary, describing the first experiences of Bicco in a room specially built for him, after arriving from Lebanon.

“For the first time after six years trapped in a small cage in a zoo in Lebanon, chimpanzee Bicco was loose in the external enclosure.

When we opened the doors giving access to the outdoors, Bicco ran still a bit clumsy and climbed all the toys that were made especially for him.

It was visible in his eyes the fascination for the grass, the toys, the birds, the freedom! It was like he was finding life at that moment!

The whole team of the sanctuary celebrated thrilled and relieved the first steps of Bicco for a dignified life.

Seeing his happiness gave us the certainty that it is worth rescuing and recovering this species that is so close to ours. So along with GAP Project, we continue working to offer all the Chimps of the sanctuary what they need most: respect, care, protection and plenty of room so they can get back in what was taken from them: the freedom to be a chimpanzee. “

Dr. Pedro A. Ynterian

President, GAP Project International

News - More News

posted in 30 Oct 2024

Spain seeks ground-breaking law for great apes

A chimpanzee is pictured at the Pridadomus recovering centre, founded by Dutch association AAP, in Villena, near Alicante. (Jose Jordan / AFP)

For decades Achille, 50, lived alone in wretched conditions in a cramped circus cage. But better days could lie ahead for the chimpanzee and almost 150 great apes in Spain, who stand to benefit from a pioneering bill that would strengthen laws safeguarding their well-being.

posted in 12 Sep 2024

Demand Sanctuary for Alamogordo Chimps

26 chimpanzees remain imprisoned at the Alamogordo Primate Facility, where they endured years of cruel experimentation. Though the National Institutes of Health ended invasive research on chimps almost a decade ago, these survivors have yet to experience the peace and sanctuary they deserve.

posted in 13 Aug 2024

Chimpanzees converse like humans, new study finds

The study, which is the result of analyzing conversations of various groups of chimpanzees in the wild in Africa for over 15 years, confirms that our evolutionary relatives also engage in rapid turn-taking in their conversations, mainly involving gestures.

posted in 31 Jul 2024

Peter Singer announces support for the Great Apes Law in Spain

Philosopher Peter Singer, one of the founders of the Great Ape Project, announced his support for the Law. "The Great Ape Project Spain has been working for many years to improve the legal situation of great apes in Spain, and is supporting this legislation as the best achievable."

posted in 08 Jul 2024

Africa: Snare removal program supports chimpanzee conservation

Chimpanzees injured in snares (ASU News - Kevin Langergraber/Kevin Lee)

Wild chimpanzees are caught in snares set for other animals and can be seriously injured, compromising their survival and behavior and posing a threat. A study shows how important the removal of snares is for their conservation.

Residents' Stories

posted in 24 Apr 2024

Katai and Sansão: orangutans in captivity in Brazil

Female orangutan Katai is the only resident of the species in a sanctuary in Brazil. Sansão lives alone in the São Paulo zoo for years. A lawsuit requests Sansão to be transferred to the sanctuary, aiming to improve both orangutan’s…

Katai

Orangutan

Meet the beautiful Katai! The female orangutan was born in 1985 in a German zoo and is a Sumatra/Borneo hybrid. Since 2010, she has been one of the residents of the Anami Institute's Great Apes Sanctuary, in Paraná.

Date of birth: 02/07/1985
Origin: Germany
Sanctuary: São José dos Pinhais, Paraná/Brazil

posted in 03 Apr 2024

Children snatched away by the circus

Throughout her life in the circus, Lucy gave birth to several children, but had no chance of becoming a mother. The babies were snatched from her on the day they were born, probably to be sold.

Lucy

Chimpanzee

Lucy is a docile female and very zealous with her children. During her life in the circus, she had several puppies, but no opportunity to raise them, as they were taken from her the same day they were born. With her arrival at Anami, this reality changed. Lucy can raise Noel, her youngest son.

Date of birth: 1981
Origin: Circus
Sanctuary: São José dos Pinhais, Paraná/Brazil

posted in 29 Nov 2023

In memory of Johny - 05/20/2000 - 11/29/2014

"Johny was the beginning of everything, of a struggle that will never die." The Starostik couple took care of a baby chimp rejected at birth in a zoo and created a suitable place for welfare in captivity.

in memoriam

Johny