Most of the ex-laboratory chimpanzees were stolen from the jungle as baby monkeys and had to watch their families being killed. Once they arrived in Austria, they were kept in an experimental laboratory for 30 years, without contact with other apes in a very small space. Animal experiments on apes have been banned in Austria since 1997 and since then the chimpanzees have been reclaiming their lives. The management and care of the animals was handed over to the safari park in Gänserndorf, which finally went bankrupt in 2004. Since then, their fate has been uncertain. In 2009, they were taken over by Gut Aiderbichl from a bankrupt estate and have been under our protection ever since. Thomas has had a difficult history and is kept individually. But by designing the outdoor facilities, he and Fifi, his neighbor, have the opportunity to make contact. Thomas and Fifi have been together in the living area before, but unfortunately there have always been serious fights between the two. Thomas is a funny guy, but often has a hard time controlling his emotions. He loves the challenges of enrichment tasks and is a relaxed and patient worker. He appreciates his outdoor area so much that he takes his toys and anything else he finds outside and brings it back inside in the evening. Even his beloved curd muesli, a dish for which Thomas leaves everything else behind, is eaten outside. Thomas sits in his "garden" for hours, often the whole day, and is a real sun worshipper.
