Yuri: the last chimpanzee in circus in Brazil

posted in 08 May 2009

Circus without animals

Last May 6th was aN important day on the history of chimpanzees in Brazil.

The last chimpanzee who worked in a circus was delivery, by free will, to GAP Sanctuary in Paraná state. Yuri worked for years in the circus performing a show called DEATH GLOBE, where he rode a motorcycle together with human bikers.

The sequence of photos presented here registers the delivery of Yuri to the sanctuary and his presentation to Anita, owner of the sanctuary, whom he hugged and received caress from. Yuri is really surprised. Seeing so many chimpanzees playing and happy around is a new image for him.

Ten years ago GAP Project started to rescue chimpanzees in circus, zoos and from private owners. Possibly we have rescued from circus around 40 chimpanzees, some of them delivered voluntarily, by circus that concluded it was not interesting anymore to keep working with animals, and other using the law force.

We have to do a public recognition to those who changed their conduct and thought about the future of the primates, leading them to the sanctuaries. It is also important to point out that, without IBAMA support, the work of founding each one would have been impossible. In many operations, IBAMA was extremely useful, accomplishing its real function, which is, among other objectives, to take care of the fauna in our country.

Yuri and Catarina (rescued and transferred to Sorocaba Sanctuary in the end of April) were the two last chimpanzees who worked in circus actively for a lot of years, according to what GAP had followed up. Then, the arrival o Yuri in a sanctuary can be considered a very important moment in the fight to vanish the use of primates in circus in Brazil.

Today, everyone who participated of this unique conquer in the world, as long as there is no other country that can be proud of not having chimpanzees being explored in circus, can affirm: MISSION ACOMPLISHED!

Dr. Pedro A. Ynterian

President, GAP Project International

News - More News

posted in 30 Oct 2024

Spain seeks ground-breaking law for great apes

A chimpanzee is pictured at the Pridadomus recovering centre, founded by Dutch association AAP, in Villena, near Alicante. (Jose Jordan / AFP)

For decades Achille, 50, lived alone in wretched conditions in a cramped circus cage. But better days could lie ahead for the chimpanzee and almost 150 great apes in Spain, who stand to benefit from a pioneering bill that would strengthen laws safeguarding their well-being.

posted in 12 Sep 2024

Demand Sanctuary for Alamogordo Chimps

26 chimpanzees remain imprisoned at the Alamogordo Primate Facility, where they endured years of cruel experimentation. Though the National Institutes of Health ended invasive research on chimps almost a decade ago, these survivors have yet to experience the peace and sanctuary they deserve.

posted in 13 Aug 2024

Chimpanzees converse like humans, new study finds

The study, which is the result of analyzing conversations of various groups of chimpanzees in the wild in Africa for over 15 years, confirms that our evolutionary relatives also engage in rapid turn-taking in their conversations, mainly involving gestures.

posted in 31 Jul 2024

Peter Singer announces support for the Great Apes Law in Spain

Philosopher Peter Singer, one of the founders of the Great Ape Project, announced his support for the Law. "The Great Ape Project Spain has been working for many years to improve the legal situation of great apes in Spain, and is supporting this legislation as the best achievable."

posted in 08 Jul 2024

Africa: Snare removal program supports chimpanzee conservation

Chimpanzees injured in snares (ASU News - Kevin Langergraber/Kevin Lee)

Wild chimpanzees are caught in snares set for other animals and can be seriously injured, compromising their survival and behavior and posing a threat. A study shows how important the removal of snares is for their conservation.

Residents' Stories

posted in 24 Apr 2024

Katai and Sansão: orangutans in captivity in Brazil

Female orangutan Katai is the only resident of the species in a sanctuary in Brazil. Sansão lives alone in the São Paulo zoo for years. A lawsuit requests Sansão to be transferred to the sanctuary, aiming to improve both orangutan’s…

Katai

Orangutan

Meet the beautiful Katai! The female orangutan was born in 1985 in a German zoo and is a Sumatra/Borneo hybrid. Since 2010, she has been one of the residents of the Anami Institute's Great Apes Sanctuary, in Paraná.

Date of birth: 02/07/1985
Origin: Germany
Sanctuary: São José dos Pinhais, Paraná/Brazil

posted in 03 Apr 2024

Children snatched away by the circus

Throughout her life in the circus, Lucy gave birth to several children, but had no chance of becoming a mother. The babies were snatched from her on the day they were born, probably to be sold.

Lucy

Chimpanzee

Lucy is a docile female and very zealous with her children. During her life in the circus, she had several puppies, but no opportunity to raise them, as they were taken from her the same day they were born. With her arrival at Anami, this reality changed. Lucy can raise Noel, her youngest son.

Date of birth: 1981
Origin: Circus
Sanctuary: São José dos Pinhais, Paraná/Brazil

posted in 29 Nov 2023

In memory of Johny - 05/20/2000 - 11/29/2014

"Johny was the beginning of everything, of a struggle that will never die." The Starostik couple took care of a baby chimp rejected at birth in a zoo and created a suitable place for welfare in captivity.

in memoriam

Johny