#Repost @manfredfoeger 👍👍💔 • • • Sometimes sad stories have to be told... --- I have been thinking for quite a while if I should post this portraits of a female chimpanzee as I hardly ever post images of animals kept in captivity on my feed - but finally I made the decision that it is sometimes necessary to break the rules. --- Lou Lou was born in captivity in 1988. She had to work in a circus for many years, in shows using little dresses and humanized gestures. Moreover she was kept in a trailer with very limited space. When she grew older her trainer realized that he could not (ab-)use her anymore as chimpanzee cannot be domesticated. As Lou Lou never learned the natural behavior of her species and is accustomed to humans it wouldn't be possible to release her into the wild. At least the second-best solution could be found for her: she arrived at Zoo de Lagos in southern Portugal in December 2008 where she shares an enclosure specially designed for chimpanzee following principles of animal welfare with conspecifics who were also rescued from circuses and the pet market. --- Lou Lou is now 30 years old and will never get the chance to live the real life of a chimpanzee. Although I'm really sorry about this she finally got a home which is at least the best that could be achieved for her. But still - other chimpanzee are on display in circuses, are abused as pets and last but not least kept for medical research. I will not comment on this - just think: chimpanzee are our closest relatives, we share between 93 and 99 percent of our genome (depending on the method to assess the similarity).... --- #chimpanzee #captivity #animalwelfare #borntobefree #greatapes #closerelatives #animalportrait @manfredfoeger I, on the other hand, I want to comment ... it is not fair that humans and animals are exploited, chained and tortured for profit. Long and good life to Lou Lou and to all liberated living beings.