It was not a war, or a climate tragedy. Is was simply the result of a predatory action of Homo sapiens against another Homo, the troglodytes – originally classified this way by the father of scientific terminology.

In the last 50 years, a million chimpanzees died too early all over the world. Millions in medical torture laboratories, other millions in zoos and commercial breeders and a lot of them in their natural habitat, the African jungles. There they are victims of hunting, poaching activities and forest destruction, to exploitation of the jungles resources.

This November 2nd, dedicated to the dead in a lot of countries, we should concentrate our condolences on the non-human innocents at least once, because they disappeared prematurely of this world.

We are going to remember some chimpanzees of our country who died due to lack of competence and sanity of some humans that did nothing to save their lives.

*Chimpanzee Chuca, killed by an unprepared cop in São Paulo when he ran away her owner’s house in a circus to go lunch in a bar she usually went. Chuca was buried in Sorocaba Sanctuary, after Ibama allowed that her body remained near her equals (2004);

*Four chimpanzees (Tony, Felipe, Nancy and Fafá) lived in São Paulo zoo and in a short period of few weeks died together with other animals of the zoo. There are no clear explanations for this episode so for (2004)

*Chimpanzee Suíça, died mysteriously in Salvador zoo when she was about to be free through a Habeas Corpus approved by Brazilian Justice that would allow her to go to a sanctuary (2005);

*Chimpanzee Alemão, died in Americana zoo, where he lived the majority of his live in a 15 square meter island. When he was about to be transfer to Sorocaba Sanctuary, several zoos went against it and canceled the transference. He died a few years after in Sorocaba zoo (2009);

*Chimpanzee Maria, died in Bauru zoo after given birth to, at least, three babies, whom she never had the chance to take care of. She was Jimmy’s mother, who died recently when he was still a teenager (2010);

*Two chimpanzees (Nina and Beti), who died drowned at Pomerode zoo, in Santa Catarina, when a river caused a flood in the facilities, which were not prepared for this kind of emergency (2011);

*Chimpanzee Rita, who lived a few months at Sorocaba Sanctuary, but was taken out of it by Sorocaba zoo. She died a few years after and was never able to raise the babies she gave birth at the zoo (2011);

*Chimpanzee Jimmy, who was still a teenager and died of unknown causes in the facilities maintained by dog trainer Gilberto Miranda. He was born at Bauru zoo (2011);

All these lives could have been saved. If these chimpanzees had been treated with the respect and consideration they deserved, they would live for many more years.

The massacre enabled by humans who exploit chimpanzees is a shame for human race and should be carried together with many others.

At least today we can speak against these destructive actions and fight for these tragedies to have an end.

We also remember today of our chimpanzees who already died: Leo, Lulu, Suzi, Tata, Gil and Quennie. They arrived at the Sanctuary after a lot of suffering and were able to enjoy, at least, of a few years of happiness together with their equals. Their bodies and minds were submitted to a lot of things and were not able to erase completely the terrible past of their lives. Wherever their souls are today, we will remind them with love and care.

One million innocents, rest in peace…

Dr. Pedro A. Ynterian
President, GAP Project International