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CNN WORLD REPORT

One Chimp's Rescue From Tragedy

Aired July 29, 2001 - 14:20 ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SHIHAB RATTANSI, CNN ANCHOR: And Belgium's Way Press International has a story of one chimp's rescue from tragic beginnings.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WAY PRESS INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): We are in an area just outside of Lisbon, Portugal. The site is a 1,000 square meter scrapyard with a car repair workshop.

It was here that a chimpanzee named Donkey was housed in a small metal cage with no protection against the rain or wind. He was chained to the cage, and inside, he could only stand in a crouching position. He was able to communicate with his human companions only through explicit gestures. He had been there from a very early age, and there is strong suspicion of a possible involvement in illegal exotic animal trade with Africa.

This discovery by an animal protection organization was the turning point in the fate of Donkey. A Portuguese consultant, working for the Brussels-based Eurogroup for Animal Welfare sent out e-mails as a form of S.O.S.

It was a Dutch foundation specializing in primates, the first to reply and come to the rescue. First the chimp had to be put to sleep in order to take some blood samples, before the necessary tests and specified quarantine period preceding the animal's transfer to the Netherlands.

Officials from Portuguese customs, the Institute for Nature conservation, as well as (UNINTELLIGIBLE), the international convention regulating trade in endangered species, were also present in order to complete the necessary forms and to ensure compliance with the necessary regulations.

The transfer to the Netherlands took place via air cargo, and the chimp was delivered to a rescue center for non-domesticated exotic animals. The foundation is specialized in primates and of the 300 other animals presently taken care of, about 130 are different species of monkeys.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We take animals from all kinds of horrible places, and we try to re-socialize them. These animals have been kept as solitary animals within cages and here they have to learn to behave like monkeys again, and they have to re-establish social behaviors again so we can form social groups.

WAY PRESS CORRESPONDENT: It may come as a surprise to find so many exotic animals in Europe. The main reason is lack of proper legislation regarding the import of various species into the European union.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Even though the species is being protected, individual animals are not. And unless they have been micro-chipped like they are here, each animal can be exchanged by another animal. So if you have a permit for one chimp, you can replace the chimp over and over again, which is a horrible situation.

WAY PRESS CORRESPONDENT: Even though Donkey may not find the ideal conditions of his original breeding ground, he can consider himself a very lucky chimp indeed.

This is Belgium's Way Press International for the CNN WORLD REPORT.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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