Information received suggest that the Judge of First Instance in Buenos Aires, who was analyzing the Habeas Corpus proposal on behalf of Sandra, female orangutan, welcomed the request and left the decision to send her to a sanctuary in charge of the Government of Buenos Aires Province, which owns the city’s Zoo.

At the same time, we were informed that the Government of Buenos Aires Province agreed with sending Sandra for a Sanctuary, then the negotiations now focus where Sandra can be sent.

GAP Great Primates Sanctuary of Sorocaba was contacted officially by the Zoo if it would receive Sandra and the answer was positive. However, it was recommended to the Zoo to consider another possibility: a sanctuary in Florida, USA, which is specialized in orangutans and has more than 18 individuals living there, most of them coming from zoos and Hollywood entertainment companies.

Center for Great Apes in Wauchula, Florida, has about 45 great apes, among chimpanzees and orangutans. There lives the chimpanzee who became famous for being created by the singer Michael Jackson, who delivered him to the sanctuary before his death.

GAP Sanctuary of Sorocaba put Buenos Aires Zoo in contact with Center for Great Apes and its director, Patti Regan, in order to examine the possibility of transfer to that location.

Dr. Pedro A. Ynterian

President, GAP Project International