Gut Aiderbichl ´s Sanctuary for Traumatized Chimpanzees and other ...

1997 After a takeover, IMMUNO lab in Orth an der Donau changes ownership: BAXTER
pharmaceuticals is the new owner. BAXTER prohibits the use of chimps in research
and they are free!
1997-2002 After the IMMUNO takeover and acquisition of the chimps and monkeys, BAX-
TER accepts moral responsibility and plans to thank the animals for their immense
sacrifices for humanity. Following the negotiations with Gänserndorf Safari Park,
BAXTER sets up a model monkey enclosure in the safari park grounds. Large openair
enclosures are planned. BAXTER gives the safari park an enviable sum of money
to care for all the monkeys.
2002 The chimps and several apes leave the lab and move into their new enclosure.
Plans start on the construction of large outdoor enclosures. Researchers and experienced
carers treat the chimps kept in isolation for over 20 years as part of a resocialization
scheme, so they can live together with others. This process is extremely
tricky – and, it is unfinished, even now.
2004 To everyone’s horror, Gänserndorf Safari Park goes bankrupt. All recently begun
work on the outdoor enclosures grinds to a halt. Even the chimps and monkey apes
are now in receivership.
2009 After several years of fruitless searching for solutions, in February 2009 the Republic
of Austria turned to Gut Aiderbichl with a proposal for the Gut Aiderbichl animal
sanctuaries group to consider incorporating the Gänserndorf enclosure and its forty
resident chimps and five monkey apes.
Dec. 2009 At the Ministry of Health in Vienna, Michael Aufhauser and Dieter Ehrengruber
sign an agreement with the state of Lower Austria, the Republic of Austria, the
Baxter group and the municipality of Gänserndorf on behalf of the non-profit Gut
Aiderbichl Foundation Austria. The Gänserndorf monkeys are now Aiderbichler!
Renate Foidl, Director of Gut Aiderbichl´s Sanctuary for Traumatized Chimpanzees
and other Primates, and Annemarie Kuti spent 18 years as trusted companions and
carers for the monkeys. They and their team also joined with the other Aiderbichler,
at Gut Aiderbichl´s Sanctuary for Traumatized Chimpanzees and other
Primates.
2010 Gut Aiderbichl’s long-term mission is to highlight the plight of animals used in
research by caring for the Aiderbichler chimps. The crucial message: chimps in the
wild are also an endangered species on the brink of extinction. The exhibition
about the chimps in Henndorf near Salzburg and in Deggendorf in Bavaria is a first
step towards achieving this goal. The resocialization and enrichment programs for
the chimps are ongoing and being intensified. Work now starts on planning and
constructing the chimps’ outdoor enclosure.
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