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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsApes Seeing The Light of Day For The First Time
Like prisoners emerging from a lifetime behind bars, a group of chimpanzees step blinking into the sunlight. This is the first time they have felt grass under their feet and breathed fresh air for 30 years. A few of the chimps were born in captivity but most were kidnapped from African jungles as babies and flown to Europe, where they were locked in metal laboratory cages to be used in a long series of experiments. Their ordeal finally ended in September 2011 when 38 of the surviving chimps were released into a sanctuary in Austria called Gut Aiderbichl, allowing them to feel the nurturing contact of their fellow chimps after years of being separated by bars and bullet-proof glass.
http://www.elephantjournal.com/2011/09/apes-seeing-the-light-of-day-for-the-first-time/
Liberal_in_LA
(44,397 posts)flvegan
(64,416 posts)Marie Marie
(9,999 posts)That was both heartbreaking and heartwarming. Beautiful. And now I am weeping for these magnificent creatures.
I can't even begin to imagine what those poor things had to endure for 30 YEARS!!!
My lottery dream is to buy the biggest piece of property I can find, plunk down a little modular house for myself, and have my own animal sanctuary. The older I get, the less I want to be around humans. Now, I just have my dogs & cats...and the big fat groundhog who lives in my yard! If I was able to have enough money in the bank to not have to work again, I'd be very happy spending the rest of my life pooper scooping!
joeybee12
(56,177 posts)1000words
(7,051 posts)Wish I could rec this a thousand times.
CherokeeDem
(3,709 posts)It brought tears to my eyes as those beautiful creatures ventured outside for the first time... when they hugged, there was joy on their faces, and on mine as well.
So thankful the chimp were freed from the horrors of being subjected to who know what and can now enjoy fresh air and the joy of life.
Thanks for posting!
njlib
(891 posts)but when they hugged and laughed, I completely lost it!! They must've been ones who were captured when they were younger because you could tell they had already known what it was like to be free. I felt so bad for the one who seemed afraid to go outside....I watched it 3 times before I posted it and I think I'll watch again. I love seeing them so happy!!
Uncle Joe
(58,425 posts)I thought this would have something to do with Republicans.
Thanks for the thread, njlib.
I almost included a disclaimer in the title!!
UtahLib
(3,179 posts)to see them finally free and no longer subjected to the mental and physical cruelty at the hands of supposedly "superior" beasts.
njlib
(891 posts)30 years in a cage....it's just sickening.
Quantess
(27,630 posts)ohheckyeah
(9,314 posts)and I'm glad they got out of their cages. The two that hugged almost made me cry.
But, the sanctuary looks like it leaves a lot to be desired. Is it temporary? Painted backdrops don't feel like a whole lot of freedom to me. I realize they can't be immediately put into the wild but is that the goal?
njlib
(891 posts)but I would imagine it would take quite some time.
ohheckyeah
(9,314 posts)before returning them into the wild. There was just something about the backdrops that I found sad, but I do understand. The whole video made my eyes leak.
SammyWinstonJack
(44,130 posts)njlib
(891 posts)I'm just glad that some people really do give a shit and try to help as much as possible.
kentuck
(111,110 posts)is more than just another word...