Hoofdpagina nieuwsdesk

Chimpanzees leave Almere for new AAP-home in Spain

Almere/Villena - 27. October 2009

Ten chimpanzees in the care of the Dutch foundation AAP, are to be moved to Spain on November 2 2009.

The chimps, belonging to ‘Donkey’s group’, have lived at AAP’s rescue centre in Almere, the Netherlands, for several years. Now however, they can look forward to a new home in Primadomus, the new rescue centre near the city of Villena in Spain. Primadomus will serve as a lifetime care centre for abused primates that are taken in by AAP, and cannot be outplaced elsewhere. With its large amount of space, this centre is a perfect, permanent alternative for zoos or animal parks. AAP has been looking forward to opening Primadomus for a long time. In time, more animals will follow Donkey’s group and enjoy the peace and space that this beautiful centre has to offer.

The ten chimps that make up Donkey’s group will be the first to call Primadomus their home. Donkey, Bob, Achille, Patrick, Anna, Babsie, Peggy, Wilma, Prudence and Sita all share a troubled past. Donkey spent years on a Portuguese car graveyard, tied to a short chain, while Prudence was kept in a dark cellar, living in her own dirt. Sita’s legs will be forever deformed as a result of poor housing and malnutrition.

Primadomus is situated south of Villena, at the foot of the ‘Sierra de Salinas’ in Spain. Its location is perfectly suited to the needs of primates, while the majority of the terrain will remain intact and serve as an official nature reserve. With the opening of the Primadomus rescue centre, AAP aims to increase its support to government institutions throughout Europe in enforcing laws and rules on animal welfare. Eventually, Primadomus will offer permanent housing to approximately 150 animals from around Europe.

Preparations
The past weeks and months have been spent preparing the transportation of the ten chimps. The animals have met their future Spanish caretaker, and both the in- and outdoor enclosures have been finished and enriched. A special truck has been equipped for transportation and a team of veterinaries and behavioural experts is now preparing the chimpanzees for their departure.

Goodbye
AAP will officially say goodbye to Donkey’s group on Thursday October 29. On Monday November 2, the ten chimps will be anaesthetized and placed into their individual transport boxes. After the anaesthesia has worn off, the transport boxes will be moved onto the truck. The truck is expected to set off for Primadomus at 6 PM, and the animals will probably fall asleep soon after departure. During the 36-hour journey, caretakers will regularly feed, comfort and check on the animals. They are to arrive in Primadomus on Wednesday morning. Soon after, the chimps will enter their new indoor enclosures. Once they are fully at ease (which can take from a few hours to several days), they will also start exploring their outdoor enclosures.

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Achille

Achille (photo Jenny Adames)

Anna

Anna (photo Ivonne Weststeijn)

Bob

Bob (photo Jenny Adames)

Donkey

Donkey (photo Jenny Adames)

Patrick

Patrick (photo Jenny Adames)

Peggie en Babsie

Peggie en Babsie (photo Ivonne Weststeijn)

Prudence

Prudence (photo Jenny Adames)

Sita

Sita (photo Jenny Adames)

Wilma

Wilma (photo Jenny Adames)

Servicegebouw Primadomus

The Primadomus service building

Terrein Primadomus

The Primadomus terrain

Primadomus under construction:

Primadomus in aanbouw 1

Primadomus in aanbouw 2

Primadomus in aanbouw 3

Primadomus in aanbouw 4

Over het bedrijf

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 aroud 300 animals at a time. In 2008 a total of 102 animals found shelter at AAP and 119 animals were outplaced.

http://www.aap.nl/english

Primadomus Spain

AAP Primadomus is a lifetime care centre in the South of Spain. The centre is situated on 180 hectares of land, bought by AAP especially with the purpose of permanently housing groups of primates that cannot, for whatever reason, be outplaced elsewhere. This usually regards groups that are too large for a zoo to take in, 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 retain the function of nature reserve that it already has now.

AAP decided to build in Spain for a reason. First of all, a lot more space is available in Spain than in the Netherlands. Second, both climate and habitat are extremely suitable for primates. Another important factor is that the cost for caring for the rescued animals is much lower in Spain than in the Netherlands. And finally,

The first inhabitants
Ten chimpanzees, living at the rescue centre in Almere and known as the 'Donkey group', are going to move to Primadomus. Although they will be the new centre's first inhabitants, space will be available for no less than 150 animals (70 chimpanzees and 80 other primates) in total. 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 Primadomus, AAP works closely together with the Spanish authorities. A piece of land was given to the local authorities, where an education centre will be 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. Also, AAP is helping the municipality in protecting the 'pino piñonero' (a native kind of pine-tree), by safeguarding a piece of forest where the tree grows. The piece of forest on AAP-land is used as the basis for an initiative for reforestation and education.

Ondersteunend materiaal

More information on the ten chimpanzees can be found here.

Click here for more photo's of Primadomus.

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Hoofdpagina nieuwsdesk

Chimpanzees leave Almere for new AAP-home in Spain

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Over het bedrijf

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