Gut Aiderbichl ´s Sanctuary for Traumatized Chimpanzees and other ...
Gut Aiderbichl ´s Sanctuary for Traumatized Chimpanzees and other ...
Gut Aiderbichl ´s Sanctuary for Traumatized Chimpanzees and other ...
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A LOST CHILDHOOD<br />
The Trauma of Isolation:<br />
These infants experienced traumatic events <strong>and</strong> completed a long, torturous journey<br />
– but the facts were totally overlooked. Immediately after their arrival at the<br />
lab, they were locked in cages. Those animals destined <strong>for</strong> use in experiments were<br />
kept in isolation – they had no contact with <strong>other</strong> animals. From now on, humans<br />
usually approached them wearing protective suits, like space suits. Research ignored<br />
the fact that these infants were still in their <strong>for</strong>mative years. They spent their<br />
youth, puberty <strong>and</strong> young adulthood in the same<br />
conditions.<br />
In 1991/1992, the animal research lab relocated<br />
to Orth an der Donau where the cages were marginally<br />
bigger (2x3m). Their occupants could see<br />
<strong>other</strong> animals through bulletproof glass.<br />
To make cleaning their cages easier, they still moved<br />
around on a wire mesh floor. Humans only<br />
ever approached chimps infected with the HIV<br />
virus wearing protective suits. At least where noninfected<br />
animals stayed, they encountered humans<br />
without protective facemasks. Some impressive<br />
black-<strong>and</strong>-white photos were taken in 1992. These<br />
record the chimps’ isolation <strong>and</strong> despair.<br />
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