If this question is put to a variety of people, we will be surprised by the variety of answers. Those who do not accept – by prejudices – that chimps are almost human, will answer “no.”

An episode occurred in Sorocaba Sanctuary a few days ago that answers with clarity this question.

Chimpanzee Felipe – better known as Pinho or Felipinho – lived a large part of his life in extinct Circo Garcia. There he was brutalized for the control of his rebellious personality. Among other absurdities, he used to be tied up and beaten with a solid bar until he made up his needs, so big was the terror he was imposed to.

Pinho had to hate humans; he never found anything good in that species that dominated his life. He lived in a cage in the circus wagon, and the love of his life, the chimpanzee Nega, lived next door. They copulated through the grid and Nega gave birth to several children, who then were stolen from them and those who are still alive live in sanctuaries, although they are not aware of that.

When the Circus Garcia was closed, 14 chimpanzees owned by it were transferred to small enclosures built in a farm in Vargem Grande Paulista. When the owner of the circus got sick, we took care of the property and the chimpanzees’ maintenance. At that time, the keeper René Nascimento, who worked with us for over 10 years, was sent there to take care of the chimpanzees. For a year René lived there and only returned to Sorocaba once a week to see his wife, who is also a keeper in the Sanctuary.

Pinho knew him at that time. When we bought the property and the chimpanzees, due to the death of the owner of the circus, René returned with them to Sorocaba. Pinho and Nega then managed to live together, with no grids between them. However, they never mated nor had babies anymore. Pinho continues worshiping Nega, but with no intimacies.

When Pinho arrived he was totally wild, pounded on doors and destroyed some. He was the terror of all, since he was extremely aggressive. The burden of hate he bore in his soul due to the brutalization he underwent manifested this way. Month after month, year after year,his hate was weakening and he began to appreciate humans who treated him in the sanctuary and were different from those in the circus. René, who accompanied him from the circus to the sanctuary, was the person he trusted most, but always kept some distance.

A few days ago, Pinho had a final gesture, showing that hatred against humans was buried in his soul. Pinho had two “pinhas” (a fruit he has special preference). When Rene came to greet him, Pinho offered one, as recognition for him to have treated him as an equal all these years, unlike the other humans he knew. René took the fruit and ate it in his presence, thanking him with a handshake.

This scene proves that despite all the violence that humans have played against chimpanzees, it still exists in the heart and soul of these extraordinary being, a reserve of compassion to forgive the species that practically extinguished them from the earth.