Sad farewell
to Chimpanzee Johannes
In the monkey sanctuary at Gut Aiderbichl Gänserndorf there is great sadness for one who has now arrived in jungle heaven with his friends: ex-lab monkey Johannes has slowly gone over the Rainbow Bridge at the age of over 41.
Dear John, we and your family - group members miss you very much.
Not only your affection, which you generously gave, your communicative way to caregivers, the conversations with you are missing...The daily "Johannes, get up!" is missing, because you were a late sleeper. It is hard to see your empty bed, your head cushion and the ceiling. Your sleeping behaviour also made you unique. You were the only chimpanzee who wanted to sleep on a pillow and blanket.
This summer we will all mourn you in a very special way, because we all know how much you loved the summer and the warmth. Totally relaxed, you sat in the outdoor enclosure and enjoyed your life. Now, when there is a fight in your group, you are missing too. You were always the mediator, you calmed and comforted.
For some time now, we have noticed that age is leaving its mark. We supported you in everyday life where it was necessary. Your group members also took care of you, and then the day came when we had to make the decision to accompany our John to the Rainbow Bridge.
These are the loving, last, painful lines from Bettina, Johannes' carer.
Johannes was born in the African jungle in 1981 and captured by game trappers. He spent eleven years of his young life in an experimental laboratory and endured inexplicable torture. There was no contact with conspecifics, but he lived isolated in a far too narrow cage. Climbing or walking was therefore not possible. Johannes fell into a deep trauma and began to hurt himself.
In 1997, the research work on him and his conspecifics was terminated and in 2009 came the second, big turnaround in Johannes' life: he and all the other chimpanzees from the experimental laboratory became part of our family.
Although Johannes had suffered physically and psychologically over the years, he developed into a very emotional chimpanzee despite everything, or perhaps because of it. The great love and care of the keepers, especially Bettina, made him self-confident again and, we think, happy.
He spoiled his friends with incredibly tender grooming. No one groomed more tenderly than Johannes. His social behaviour was enormous: Johannes brought calm to his sometimes agitated family group, he settled disputes, he comforted and was there for his friends.
And now Johannes is missing - from the chimpanzees and the people who knew and loved him. A stroke and consequent severe signs of paralysis took Johannes and his carers by surprise. With heavy hearts, we cleared Johannes' path to the Rainbow Bridge. There was no hope and no chance of recovery.
Have a good time in the eternal garden, dear John. We know that you are now sitting in the sun with your friend Holophernes and that from this place you have your friends and your people in view.
If you seek me, seek me in your heart. If I have found a home there, I will always be with you.
Dakota
You remain in our hearts,
Goodbye, Johannes.
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