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

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