Sanctuaries: more than simple enclosures

SOROCABA SANCTUARY

Serge K. Soiret – our correspondent in Africa – has been observing interesting behavior of chimpanzees who are not able to live in the wild at Ivory Coast. One of these observations was related to the kind of food and preference for places to have the meals.

In captivity, chimpanzees carry on their DNA these practices of choosing the places and the kind of food. Johnny, for instance, eats mayonnaise in pleasure inside his tunnel, from where he has vision of the road and of people who pass through. Besides, carefully, in each spoon, Johnny separates the pieces of carrot in his mouth and then split them, as long he does not like this vegetable.

Pongo also has his favorite place to drink juice and eat fruits: seated by the window. And it is not difficult to get to this conclusion, because the empty boxes and the skins and rests accumulate in the place and become the proof.

Billy, enjoying the 40 meter tunnel in the middle of the woods, which has a hall, carries his food and toys there, where he spends a lot of time observing nature and is attractions, like the birds singing and the butterflies, closely.

This is freedom of choice. Even if they live in captivity, they should have this option in their lives. If they want to go to the tunnel, or to a window to look and interact with a neighbor, they should go. If they want to stay in the room, it is their choice. They are not forced to nothing. They do what they want. This a dignified way to treat primitive humans, who, no matter the environment, have their need, characteristics and personalities. And as everybody knows, respect is good and everybody enjoys it.

MSc. Luiz Fernando Leal Padulla