Published at Galileu Magazine, December 2009

By Jaqueline B. Ramos (environmental journalist and Communications Manager of Great Ape Project)

Biologically speaking, human beings are nothing less than great apes. We shared with the other four species of this group several similarities, including genetic and behavioral. But there is no doubt that in rational terms we are more developed. Now, at XXI century, we have to start to afford the responsibilities that this rationally brings to us. And to support the World Declaration on Great Apes’ Rights is exactly to understand this special position that human beings occupy in Nature, right beside other living beings.

Right to life, to freedom and non-torture. We understand that chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas and orangutans deserve the concession of these rights just like humans beings do. Not that the other animals do not deserve respect and that all the abuse committed against them should not be condemned. But in the case of the great primates this becomes more evident due to their proximity with us. We can not pass by the care for our evolution cousins and should have this as a way to defend a big issue.

The declaration is clear in its principles. We defend that the lives of all primates must be protected and that they can not be killed, except in exceptional circumstances, as self-defense. Great primates can not be deprived of their freedom, have the right to live in their habitat and, in captivity, have the right to live with dignity and of being protected from commercial exploitation. Intended imposition of intense pain, physical or psychological, with no reason or for the benefit of other, is considered a torture and is an offense of which they must be protected.

At GAP Project we defend this proposal since the beginning of the movement, in the 1990’s. The four sanctuaries that are affiliated to the project in Brazil host more than 70 chimpanzees, who, in majority, had been rescued of mistreating situations and inadequate conditions in circuses, shows and zoos. Day-by-day in the sanctuaries reinforces the perception we have of the humanity level of chimpanzees and demonstrates how the lack of the rights proposed in the declaration can result in suffering and traumas, some irreversible, in our closest relatives. And if this can be avoided, why not do it? After all, as the “smartest” relatives, this is the least we can do.