GAP Sanctuary Europe © 2018. All Rights Reserved . Cookies & Privacy Policy | Terms of Use View Web Design
GREAT PRIMATES AWAIT YOUR PROTECTION
GAP is an International movement that aims to defend the rights of the
non-
our closest relatives in animal kingdom.
Uschi
Uschi and her brother Kaspar had lived in the Nadermann Zoo for more than 30 years. This private zoo has been owned by the Nadermann family for several generations. The Zoo is located at the edge of the North Rhine-
Uschi and Kaspar were the last two chimpanzees in Delbruck and very little information has been forthcoming about where they came from originally. What we do know is that both were born in captivity in Germany and that Uschi was born on December 15th 1984 and Kaspar is three years older.
There are numerous private zoos in Germany and they may have come from one of those or even a private collection. Chimpanzees are still used in circuses there, and one of these has 43 chimpanzees, so it is anyone’s guess really.
We found out about the plight of Kaspar and Uschi when the Great Ape Project visited in August 2015 as the Sanctuary had just rescued another chimp from Germany called Charley from another private Zoo. Mr Nadermann says that Charley used to live in Delbruck too and then moved to Bad Pyrmont!
Criticism of the chimps’ situation had escalated after the Zoo owner had threatened to send them to China:
“Safari Park in Guangzhou have been known to abuse chimpanzees for tourism and to keep in the worst conditions," said Dr. Sandra Altherr, a biologist at Pro Wildlife eV
“For many years the Tierpark Nadermann has kept the apes under catastrophic conditions and profit from them, "added Dr. Colin Goldner from the Great Ape Project.
Prompted by the public pressure from groups like these the Zoo decided to re-
We were very pleased because Dr Goldner’s photographs of them and their impoverished home had touched our hearts and we had made up our minds then that the chimps MUST come here.
Finally on Sunday 29th November 2015 Graham and Mike set off on the long 1,260 mile round trip journey by road to collect the two chimps in the Sanctuary rescue ambulance. They left Delbruck on Tuesday 1st December and were back here soon after midnight on Tuesday night after a marathon drive.
Wednesday morning the chimps awoke to our first dry day for weeks which was a great introduction to their outside enclosure with its views of the Brecon Beacons and five other chimps to pant hoot to on the other side.
The Zoo told us that the chimps enjoy their food particularly fruit like bananas, mangoes, grapes, pineapples. They also like salad, artichokes and leeks, together with boiled potatoes, rice and pasta.
They also like yoghurts. They like cabbage and boiled eggs. They eat willow and birch leaves. It is nice at least to be given this information.
Both chimps have really settled in to their life here at the Sanctuary. They miss nothing that goes on in the adjoining enclosure and join in vociferously when there is any noise from their five neighbours.
Uschi in particular is extremely loud and can be very bossy towards Kaspar, who takes it all in his stride. On the other hand if Kaspar requires medical attention she is distraught and extremely protective of him. Uschi loves to have a blanket and will take it outside with her where both chimps will sit on it and make a picnic with their food!
They have enjoyed playing with a huge purple yoga ball and unlike their neighbours they have not broken it! Their life here at the Sanctuary is content and we hope very happy. It has been a joy to see both of them develop into real characters. Uschi can be very noisy and reminds us a lot of Winnie one of our original old lady chimps from Penscynor. Winnie was also bossy!!