Sasha24, and his son kangarooof the 15 chimpanzees that inhabit the Buenos Aires Ecopark, will be transferred in the coming weeks to Monkey World Ape Rescue Centerlocated in Longthorns, Warhamen United Kingdom, a few kilometers from London. With this trip, there will be 927 animals dating back to 2016.

The mother and son were born in captivity at the old zoo: Sasha was born on September 17, 1997, and Kangoo, who was born on April 27, 2007; and since the end of 2021 they are preparing for this trip. Transfer plans activated after he died in February 2021 Martincouple Sasha and father Kangoo, who is 51 years old and looks lifeless in his cage.

Facing the next journey, primates get a varied diet based on fruits (sometimes in the form of juices or smoothies), vegetables, eggs, seeds and even insects, which are always presented in such a way as to challenge their cognitive abilities, such as being hidden using some tools. to get it, according to a report from Ecopark.

Currently, both are in good health, receiving regular health checks under training, achieving perfect interactions with their caregivers and they accept to receive from them and from veterinarians indications and treatment through positive reinforcement (reward) for it.

“We are very pleased to announce that two chimpanzees, born and raised in the former Buenos Aires zoo, they will be free, enjoy and play in one of the most prestigious nature reserves in the world”, reports Felipe Miguel, Chief of Staff for the City of Buenos Aires.

The official recalled thatThis release is part of the paradigm shift that we are promoting with the Ecopark transformation.”. “In addition to raising awareness about biodiversity and concern for the environment, we work to refer animals in condition to nature reserves“, he added.

Meanwhile, the Secretary of the Environment of Buenos Aires, Inés Gorbea, expressed his joy: “This transfer is symbolic because Both Sasha and Kangoo never leave the park and, with this action, we are giving them a new chance to live a better life.”

The official also emphasized the new meaning they want to give to the Ecopark. “For us and our young people, it is important to give this space a new role: generating environmental education, developing species conservation programs and ensuring a better future for young and healthy animals. For this, Each transfer fills us with emotion and brings us closer to the Ecoparque idea we project“he said.

It’s also part of the ad Federico Iglesias, head of the Ecopark, who explains that “chimpanzees are very friendly. His transfer meant a new challenge as they had always lived together. We had to wait for the opportunity to safely transfer them, and while this was happening, we greatly increased their stay by conditioning their environment and strengthening their cognitive health through various types of environmental enrichment.”

chimpanzee currently living in four different neighborhoods: a management area, an open terrace and two winter terrace-type areas, all with ropes that allow climbing, movement, with perches at heights, which provide the possibility of performing species-specific behaviors. The closed environment has a heating system.

As of February 2021, the chimpanzee family also includes Martin, who had been rescued from the Cutini Zoo and found dead in the cage he shared with Sasha and Kangoo. The transfer was impossible for him because, as they say from the entity, he was an old animal and they couldn’t refer him to a sanctuary because the trip would put his life at risk. Also, they argue that they can’t separate the familyso that his spouse and son will stay with him as long as he lives.

How was the transfer?

The chimpanzees will enter for training in a transfer box designed and made especially for this trip. and that they enter the Ecopark in December 2021. Once inside, they will travel by vehicle to Ezeiza and then take a flight to Heathrow International Airport in the UK. At that destination, they will be transported by truck to the Sanctuary, which is located about 170 km away in the town of Longthorns, Wareham. The trip is scheduled for the last week of August or the first week of September.

In addition, they will be accompanied by caregivers and veterinarians; and the three people in charge of the Sanctuary will be with Sasha and Kangoo throughout the journey. To give them greater security, they will travel consciously and will be offered food and water whenever possible.

Regarding the sanitation requirements related to the transfer, an International Veterinary Certificate (CVI) has been approved for the export of chimpanzees from the Republic of Argentina to the United Kingdom, which has been agreed by the sanitation application authorities of the two countries.

“Through the International Veterinary Certificate, it is determined that all chimpanzee specimens transferred from the Argentine Republic to the UK must undergo a quarantine process under controlled sanitary conditions before being transferred. Therefore, the chimpanzees are in quarantine before being transferred to Monkey World, starting on 19 July 2022″, reports Ecoparque.

temple Monkey World Ape Rescue Center It has been in operation since 1987 and has assisted 28 governments worldwide with the seizure of animals under the CITES Convention, and/or assisting with animal cruelty or neglect cases. The people who composed it rescued more than 75 chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and currently hosts more than 200 animals from more than 20 primate species.

Many of the animals living in Monkey World were rescued from circumstances of abuse or neglect.and suffer from various physical and/or psychological health conditions being cared for in the Sanctuary.

“In the Holy Place, they will be able to share the same space with other individuals of their species, after a suitable period of adaptation. This represents a substantial improvement in animal welfare,” added Iglesias.

The process of integrating new members into the chimpanzee group in the Sanctuary is carried out in stages. There, they are separated into different groups and each live in a different environment, which has several bedrooms that can be isolated from the rest of the environment.

By having multiple bedrooms, the environment has great flexibility when it comes to introducing new members to the group.

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