Despite being abused and used for cruel animal testing, a group of chimpanzees are proving that they still have the will to love.
Several years ago, chimpanzees formerly used in hepatitis research were released by the New York Blood Center (NYBC) after they outlived their usefulness. The apes were transferred to a remote Liberian island. The island – known to locals as "Monkey Island" – is home to over 60 chimps who only allow familiar caretakers to approach its shores.
In the video, their favorite caretaker arrives on the island to check up on them. They welcome him with open arms and eagerly run up to him to give him a hug! (It's as beautiful as seeing these rescued lab apes experiencing sunlight for the first time.)
The video was filmed in 2013 but has been recently making the round on social media. These orphaned chimpanzees had no chance of survival if they were released back into the wild, so the Chimpanzee Sanctuary was established in October 1998 as a non-profit organization to care for and protect these chimpanzees in a natural environment.
Although the chimps are cared for, their story shows the unfortunate outcome of animals used for lab testing.
Earlier this year, the NYBC decided to stop funding the chimp's welfare. The Humane Society of the U.S. has been ensuring that the retired lab chimps are cared for, raising money through donations.
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