Elated ... two chimps hug in excitement before stepping out together
Posted on 09/07/2011 6:18:43 AM PDT by Palter
THIS is the moment a group of chimpanzees sees daylight for the first time in 30 years — after being locked in cages for medical testing.
The animals hugged each other in delight before they took their first steps outside.
Emotional footage, below, shows how they reacted to their new surroundings.
The outing marked the end of a 14-year bid to re-integrate the 38 primates after they spent most of their lives cooped up inside.
One commentator said: "They hugged as if saying, 'We're finally free'. And then they laughed."
The chimpanzees were taken from their mothers shortly after their births and brought to a research facility in Austria.
Scientists kept the animals in isolation and gave them HIV and hepatitis. Their ordeal finally ended in 1997 when the pharmaceutical company behind the research was sold.
The chimps were moved to a farm where keepers tried to reintroduce them to life outside — but the process was not easy.
The animals had spent so much time inside they were confused when shown patches of grass — and repeatedly threw them away.
But finally their moment of freedom came. And their keeper Renate Foidl said: "The chimps are incredibly happy. This is amazing, I have been waiting for this moment for so long."
The use of chimps for scientific research has been controversial.
Earlier this year, a hot debate was sparked in New Mexico when animal rights activists demanded the release of 180 working chimps to a sanctuary.
All involved should go to jail for animal cruelty. Where is the outrage?! Bring on the lawyers there is money to be made. /s
Jeez, what b.s. Chimps hug each other like that when they are scared and insecure.
“Scientists kept the animals in isolation and gave them HIV and hepatitis.”
Sometimes I wonder if the animal rights bastards are right.
“THIS is the moment a group of chimpanzees sees daylight for the first time in 30 years — after being locked in cages for medical testing.”
Too bad the same cannot be done to the cretins that did this to these chimps.
So they were given diseases and they’re still alive after many years. We must have learned something.
It’s Criminal! Such a horrible, miserable life.
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
The UK has been doing experiments putting human brain cells into the apes.
If we received some good information from them it was all worth while to do.
“So they were given diseases and they’re still alive after many years. We must have learned something.”
We’ve learned that some “human beings” have no hearts.
Scientists kept the animals in isolation and gave them HIV and hepatitis.”
Sometimes I wonder if the animal rights bastards are right.
_______________________________________________________
I do as well. Inflicting unspeakable cruelty upon innocent creatures in an effort to cure the most PREVENTABLE disease known to mankind is despicable to say the least
I heard that one of the chimps was named "Truth"
There by showing that the chimps were smarter then the dipwits doing this. You hand me a patch of grass I will throw it away too.
Better a million dead chimps than to let even 1 human die.
Not sure I’d say they were hugging in excitement...look more like fear/nervousness and looking for comfort.
Not quite sure why it took 13 or 14yrs to acclimate them
“Sometimes I wonder if the animal rights bastards are right.”
Hope you like tofu :)
No better one deviant homosexual dies from HIV than one chimp.
those chimps are prime cadidates for my exotic monkey hunting ranch.
Anthropomorphize much?
It would no doubt have ruined the experiment to give the chimps any outdoor time whatsoever. Fortunately for our worst offenders in prison, they get one hour a day of outside-the-cell rec time. These chimps no doubt preferred the strictures of their cages to playing in the sun for even an hour a day.
Or do you not believe chimps are capable of play? Are they just mindless/brainless robots who prefer lab cages to exercising in a larger space with more activities?
Where I live some dogs are kept for their entire lifetime on short chains. There is no law against it. I guess if the owners infected them with AIDS and studied the result, it would be a good life for the dogs. Actually, dogs can and do enjoy playtime. Are you suggesting that chimps are stupider than dogs?
If not, why can these experiments not take place with a modicum of care for the animals? Seriously, would allowing them an outdoor playpen ruin the scientific value of the work?
Really? It would??? Okay, then; I guess keeping the chimps locked inside like high security prisoners was justified; my bad.
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