Apes Seeing The Light of Day For The First Time

[njlib]

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]

1. k&r

[flvegan]

2. Humans...fucking shame on you.

[Marie Marie]

6. Shame indeed.

That was both heartbreaking and heartwarming. Beautiful. And now I am weeping for these magnificent creatures.

[njlib]

8. Agree 1,000%

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]

18. Exactly...shame, shame, shame...nt

[1000words]

3. Thank you, njlib

Wish I could rec this a thousand times.

[CherokeeDem]

4. This video is amazing...

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]

5. I was already starting to cry when the music started to play...

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]

7. That is a most powerful video but before clicking on your thread,

I thought this would have something to do with Republicans.

Thanks for the thread, njlib.

[njlib]

9. LOL

I almost included a disclaimer in the title!!

[UtahLib]

10. Makes my heart swell and the tears flow

to see them finally free and no longer subjected to the mental and physical cruelty at the hands of supposedly "superior" beasts.

[njlib]

11. The two that hug really get to me

30 years in a cage....it's just sickening.

[Quantess]

12. K & R

[ohheckyeah]

13. It's a very touching video and story

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]

15. Yes, I think the goal was to get them back into the wild

but I would imagine it would take quite some time.

[ohheckyeah]

17. That's good. I know it would take time to acclimate them

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]

14. people? suck!

[njlib]

16. Yes, they do

I'm just glad that some people really do give a shit and try to help as much as possible.

[kentuck]

19. Freedom...

is more than just another word...