Guga

Male chimpanzee Guga was born in a commercial breeding facility in Paraná, southern Brazil, in 1999. The place used to reproduce chimpanzees to sell to circuses and zoos. At the age of three months old, Guga was “adopted” by the businessman Pedro Ynterian, who in a short time realized that the chimpanzee was not a pet. He was then transferred to adequate facilities in a conservation center located in the countryside of São Paulo state, which already housed primates and birds rescued from illegal activities.

In order not to be alone, the transfer of other chimpanzees born in the same place was also negotiated. In this way, the commercial reproduction center was finally closed and the Great Apes Sanctuary of Sorocaba was born, based on the ideas of the Great Ape Project (GAP).

Guga was the non-human son of the Ynterian family and inspired the work of the GAP Project in Brazil and in the world. He was the founder of the Sanctuary, which is the largest in Latin America and today houses more than 50 chimpanzees that were victims of mistreatment. In total, counting on the other three Brazilian sanctuaries and with all who had the chance to enjoy a decent life in the last years of their lives, more than 100 chimpanzees were saved – and Guga was the ambassador of everything.

Affected by a very serious illness that made him fight, as an amazing warrior that he was, for several weeks, Guga left his nonhuman and human companions of the Sanctuary at dawn on May 27, 2018. This page is dedicated to his memory and in gratitude to all that he represented, and still represents in the struggle for Great Apes’ Rights.

Rest in peace, dear Guga! 🙏🏻