Meeting of Spanish rescue centres following the announcement of the new law for the protection of great apes.
Spain’s Ministry of Social Rights has finally announced the start of the draft bill for the Great Apes Law.
The union between the sanctuaries is essential to ensure that the voice of experts in the care and welfare of great apes is heard and considered in the drafting of the new law.
Although after some months of delay, the Government has given the green light to start drafting this new regulation and has launched a prior public consultation, the draft bill of the Great Apes Law. This legislation will address several issues:
- There are no clear rules to protect great apes: In Spain, there are no specific laws that dictate how we should care for and protect great apes (gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans, and bonobos), which are our closest relatives in the Hominid family.
- The rules for keeping great apes in captivity are inadequate: The existing laws on how to keep great apes in captivity are neither sufficient nor up-to-date.
- There is a lack of legal tools to fulfil international promises: Spain has made promises in international programs to help protect and conserve great apes, but it does not have enough laws or legal tools to ensure these promises are fulfilled.
The Role of Rescue and Rehabilitation Centers
Rescue centres play a crucial role in this process. From an ethical perspective, we have been setting a new standard or model to follow for decades on how primates living in captivity should be treated. In other words, we are advocating for a better and more ethical approach to the care of great apes.
For this reason, the three Spanish rescue centres, Fundació MONA, Rainfer, and AAP-Primadomus, have joined forces to ensure that the resulting law guarantees true protection for these animals. Collaboration and coordination between the different sanctuaries are essential to achieve robust and effective regulations. Working together allows for the pooling of efforts and knowledge, ensuring that the needs of great apes are addressed comprehensively.
We’ll keep you updated
