International Monkey Day
From the perspective of an Aiderbichler
(by Gisela Pschenitschnig)
14 December - International Monkey Day
Every year on the same date, the international day of honour for gorillas, chimpanzees and all other ape species takes place. Primates are the closest biological relatives of humans and include chimpanzees. They are fantastic animals that belong to the mammals and whose DNA is 98% identical to that of humans. Apes are found in the tropical and subtropical forests of Africa and Asia. Their favourite habitat is trees, which are ideal for building sleeping places.
Our ancestors are
threatened with extinction ...
The human success story began in Africa almost seven million years ago. With many, many intermediate stages, it evolved into today’s humans, who soon conquered the entire globe.
Wild-caught animals are still being brought to laboratories in America and China to research drugs. When young, healthy animals are captured for the experiments, between 15 and 20 adult monkeys are killed each time in order to reach the protected young animals. The animals are separated from their mothers, torn from their familiar environment and placed in cages that are far too small. They are then used for research until the animals are in poor health and have to be euthanised. Unfortunately, there are still chimpanzees that have to “perform” in circuses.
What is the difference
between apes and humans?
In intelligence – says man. Only humans are clever enough to build and use tools. Science agreed on this for a long time. But then an orangutan on the south-east Asian island of Borneo was observed lurking motionless on the shore with a spear-like wooden stick. Suddenly he thrust it. He was hunting fish – and knew what he was doing. The orangutan had thus signalled that it could think, plan and execute an action.
The ex-lab chimpanzees of Gut Aiderbichl
31 ex-lab monkeys live protected and peacefully at Gut Aiderbichl Gänserndorf, Lower Austria. Michael Aufhauser took a huge step over ten years ago: “… I don’t really know how it will go yet. But you must not die…. You should be allowed to live!” – In many conversations and presentations, Michael Aufhauser repeatedly recounted his feelings and impressions when he was able to look the ex-lab monkeys in the eye for the first time. Outdoor enclosures were planned and built so that the ex-lab monkeys could also move around outside. One person who accompanied him on this journey was Jane Goodall, the wonderful and great behavioural scientist and friend of the monkeys.
Our rescued laboratory chimpanzees had been living in isolation in the laboratory for decades and we adopted them severely traumatised. Those that had been captured as babies in the jungle suffered the most. They had witnessed their mothers and family members die in the hail of bullets from the poachers.
Can animals feel, can apes think? These are questions that have no meaning when you observe and get to know our ex-lab monkeys, for example.
They “ape” us humans, they can be happy, they can look angry, they can plan and destroy or build. Monkeys fall in love – with another monkey or with the animal keepers who have lovingly and respectfully cared for them for many years.
When someone dies, everyone is sad
A few weeks ago, Holophernes lay peacefully asleep in his hammock. First there was excitement in his group, then came weeks of deep sadness, because Holophernes had been their boss and the leader of the group. Holophernes knew every monkey in his group inside out. He donated comfort, was a mate and a friend. He had spent 11 years in the cage and had been used for experiments. Holophernes will remain unforgotten in the hearts of the animals and the people who knew him.
“If the chimpanzees had words, they could probably talk about the feeling of awe and wonder.” (Jane Goodall)
Perhaps it’s about the awe of nature and everything that goes with it. What could monkeys wonder about?
Yours sincerely, Gisela
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