Chimpanzee Schuscha

Most of the ex-lab chimpanzees were stolen from the jungle as baby apes and had to watch their families being killed. Once in Austria, they were kept in an experimental laboratory for 30 years, without contact with conspecifics in a very small space. Animal experiments on apes have been banned in Austria since 1997, and since then the chimpanzees have been reclaiming their lives. Their management and care was handed over to the Safari Park in Gänserndorf, which finally went bankrupt in 2004. Since then, their fate was uncertain. In 2009, they were taken over by Gut Aiderbichl from a bankruptcy estate and have been under our protection ever since. Schuscha is the mother of David and Xsara, but they had to be raised by the keepers, because Schuscha never had the opportunity to learn what one has to do to be a mother. She is more of a friend to her children than a mother and especially enjoys playing with Xsara. Schuscha is a chimpanzee lady who keeps order between the men. She placates them with hugs and pats them on the back. She cultivates female friendships a lot by grooming. At the moment, her favourite female friends are Bonnie and Lingoa. Schuscha was one of the first chimpanzees to sit down on a high tree in the outdoor enclosure. Then her son David followed. She loves to eat and has been put on a diet as she is very prone to gaining weight....