International
Monkey Day 2023
From the perspective of Gut Aiderbichl
(written by Gisela Pschenitschnig)
Wild-caught monkeys are still being brought to the many laboratories where they are used to research drugs.
I can no longer get one sentence out of my head: in order to young, healthy animals for the experiments, between 15 and 20 adult animals have to be killed each time in order to get to the protected young animals.
Entire monkey families are destroyed because the young are taken away from their mothers and their familiar environment. The monkeys are then placed in small, narrow cages and transported to their destination.
Gut Aiderbichl and its ex-laboratory monkeys in Gänserndorf
Michael Aufhauser and Dieter Ehrengruber took a bold step over 10 years ago, which was not without criticism. The ex-laboratory monkeys of the Immunoan Austrian research laboratory, became Aiderbichler and were thus promised the chance to enjoy a life in "small freedom" in the monkey houses and the outdoor enclosures until the end of their natural lives. Michael Aufhauser could not give the traumatized animals back.
Confinement in a confined space
The animals were kept in 90 by 90 centimeter cages in the cellar without daylight. There was no socialization, no bright daylight with sun, wind or rain. It smelled terrible, the monkeys rattled the bars of the cages, they screamed and wanted their freedom.
After many years of research, the decision was made to "release" the animals from research. Baxter felt obliged to the ex-laboratory monkeys and brought them to the monkey houses of the large safari park in Gänserndorf.
Since 2011, the animals, some of which are severely traumatized, have been able to access the outdoor enclosures. The outdoor enclosures are a small paradise for the chimpanzees with a wide, blue sky above them. Before, they knew nothing but the small cages. Perhaps they sometimes think they are back home?
When one dies, they are all sad
Resocialization will never be complete, the ex-laboratory monkeys have had to experience too much in the many years of research. Some are full of fear and insecurity, certain noises and bright lights remind them of their time in the cage.
As highly socialized animals, they are created almost 98% like us humans. They can be happy, they are master craftsmen, they have wonderful instincts and can grieve and cry just like us humans.
Carmen passed away a few weeks ago. She had been infected with hepatitis C for 13 years. She had loved her little jungle, the outdoor enclosure, more than anything. Dorli and Pumuckl, her group friends, are still mourning the loss of their Carmen.
When will animal testing finally stop? When will people finally stop keeping monkeys in their living rooms? The questions are endless - there is only one answer: it has to stop.
Sincerely, Yours Gisela
The least I can do is speak up for those who can't do it themselves.
~ Jane Goodall
