North-American scientific magazine “PNAS” has published a work by Spanish anthropologist Juan-Luis Arsuaga and his team, from Madrid Complutense University, that describes the older primitive human primate discovered, with 45 years old. A half-million year specimen of Homo heidelbergensis has been presented as the oldest representative of that time.

The same work, published in an article in Folha de São Paulo newspaper on October 12, comments that “chimpanzees – human closest relatives – can even reach 50 years old, but only in special cases”.

The life of a primate, human or not, depends on the care he had throughout his life, feeding, environment and preservation of health. Primatologist Richard Wrangham, in his book “Getting fire” (2009), defends that feeding was crucial for the development of modern Homo, from the common ancestors of chimpanzees and primitive humans. As long as animal protein was submitted to fire, this facilitated digestion and allowed a faster development of the primitive beings.

We have chimpanzees from different origins in our sanctuaries. If we compare those who suffer in zoos and circuses, unnourished and exploited by entertainment industry, with those whom we raise, it is easy to see the difference. Guga, Claudio, Emilio, Noel and Carlos, all of them are less than 12 years old, have a very good health, which can not be compared to those who arrived at the sanctuary already grown up and with several traumas.

A chimpanzee in the African jungle hardly turns more than 30 years old. At zoos – with exception of those international with high standards – they do no go further than 40 years old. Modern humans in African countries less developed do not cross 45 years old, a little bit more than a non-human great primate resist in the jungle.

As long as the knowledge about health proceed, the resources directed to it rise and a life that respects the environment expands. The existence of all primates extends. We have chimpanzees who are about to be 50 in our sanctuaries, despite they did not have a fair life during a period of time. Those who were practically born there, apart from accidents, are destined to bury all of us. Maybe, including the humans who were born with them.

Dr. Pedro A. Ynterian
President, GAP Project International