Hoofdpagina nieuwsdesk

AAP Foundation opens new rescue centre Primadomus in Spain

Almere/Villena - 24. November 2009

The Dutch AAP Foundation officially opens a new rescue centre today in Spain called AAP Primadomus. Dr. Jane Goodall, a campaigner for chimpanzees, will host the opening ceremony, with several guests attending from all over Europe. Primadomus is situated in the city of Villena, approximately fifty kilometers West of Alicante.

With the opening of the Primadomus rescue centre, AAP aims to increase its support for government institutions throughout Europe and assist in enforcing animal welfare laws. AAP has been looking forward to opening AAP Primadomus for a long time. After years of building and preparation, the rescue centre will offer a permanent residence for chimpanzees and other primates that have no place else to go.

Hundreds of primates and other exotic mammals throughout Europe are living in appalling circumstances. Every year, a lot of Barbary Macaques are illegally transported from Morocco to European households and many chimpanzees are still exploited by circuses. AAP cooperates with government institutions and other animal welfare organizations, assisting in the rescue of these animals. AAP’s rescue center in Almere, the Netherlands, does not provide enough space to house all the animals that need shelter. Furthermore, once the animals at AAP have been resocialised, it is not always possible to find suitable outplacement addresses such as renowned zoos or sanctuaries. The opening of Primadomus gives AAP extra possibilities to give discarded monkeys a permanent home.

Among the speakers at the opening ceremony are Dr. Jane Goodall, who will reveal a commemorative plaque to celebrate the opening of Primadomus, the mayor of Villena, Celia Lledó, David van Gennep, director of AAP Foundation and Olga Martin, director of the project in Spain. The mayor of Villena will also be presented with a commemorative plaque to mark the opening of a natural education centre just outside AAP Primadomus. The guests will also have a chance to see how the ten ‘Donkey’s group’ chimpanzees are enjoying their new environment. The guests at the opening include some of AAP’s financial donors and representatives of other animal organizations such as IFAW and WSPA.

Earlier this month, ten chimpanzees known as ‘Donkey’s group’ were the first inhabitants to move to Primadomus. These chimps were rescued from circuses, unscrupulous zoos and private owners. In AAP Primadomus, they can enjoy the peace and space that this beautiful centre has to offer. Situated at the foot of the Sierra de Salinas mountains, Primadomus will eventually offer permanent housing to approximately 150 animals from around Europe. A large part of the terrain will remain a nature reserve.

Over het bedrijf

About AAP Foundation

AAP is a European rescue centre and sanctuary for primates and other exotic mammals. Based in the Netherlands, we house animals from all over Europe. They have been confiscated, abandoned or offered by private owners as a result of illegal trade, were being exhibited in illegal zoos or used in biomedical research or the entertainment industry.

AAP specialises in housing primates, but other small, non-domesticated mammals, such as raccoons, skunks and prairie dogs also find shelter at our centre. Many of the animals have a history of abuse and neglect. At AAP they receive the professional care needed for their physical and mental recovery. After a careful process of rehabilitation, long-term solutions are sought through outplacement. We aim to outplace our animals in relatively natural environments, such as renowned zoos and animal parks.

On average, AAP houses around 300 animals at a time. In 2008 a total of 102 animals found shelter at AAP and 119 animals were outplaced.

www.aap.nl/english
www.aap-primadomus.org

Primadomus Spain

AAP Primadomus is a lifetime care centre in the South of Spain. The centre is situated in a plot , bought by AAP with the specific purpose of permanently housing groups of primates that cannot, for whatever reason, be outplaced elsewhere. This usually means groups that are too large for a zoo, or species that zoos and animal parks are not interested in having.

The plot of land is spacious, and the natural environment very well suited to accommodate large groups of primates. Its location is 7,5 kilometers south of Villena (30.000 inhabitants), in the Spanish region of Alicante, at the foot of the mountain chain Sierra de Salinas. A large part of the land will remain a nature reserve, as it currently is.

AAP decided to build in Spain for various reasons. First of all, a lot more space is available in Spain than in the Netherlands. Second, both climate and habitat are suitable for primates

The first inhabitants
Ten chimpanzees, living at the rescue centre in Almere and known as the 'Donkey group', will be moving to Primadomus. Although they will be the new centre's first inhabitants, space will be available for more primates in the future (around 70 chimpanzees and 80 other primates). This will give AAP's rescue centre in Almere the opportunity to help more animals than it does now. Furthermore, Primadomus will help AAP increase its support to government institutions throughout Europe, especially in Spain, France and Portugal, in enforcing laws and rules on animal welfare.

Cooperation with the municipality
In establishing AAP Primadomus, AAP worked closely with the Spanish authorities. A piece of land was given to the local authorities, where an education centre has been built to provide information on the nature surrounding the city of Villena. At the same time, the centre will be available for AAP to give information about its activities.

Contactgegevens

Karen Jansen and Petra Timmers, AAP Foundation
Tel.: +31 (0)6-22098580
Karen.jansen@aap.nl
Petra.timmers@aap.nl

Ondersteunend materiaal

Click here for photo's of the chimpanzees' arrival at AAP Primadomus. Royaltee-free video's can be downloaded here (the ten chimps' history, departure from Almere and arrival and release in Primadomus).

Before being moved to Spain, the ten chimpanzees were anaesthetized and placed into their individual transport boxes.

Anaestesia