Please enjoy this letter from the President of the Jane Goodall Institue in Italy about our Behavioral Enrichment Manager, Hilda Tresz.

Dear reader,
I wish to tell you about the work done to improve the living conditions of ten chimpanzees hosted in the Egyptian zoos of Giza (Cairo), Alexandria and Fayoum. Fruitful and promising cooperative work has led to integrating three isolated chimps and grouping another seven. The integration/grouping operation was successfully conducted by Hilda Tresz in collaboration with the zoo staff. The cooperation and support of the Governmental Veterinary Authorities and of Giza/Central zoo management have been fundamental.

Most of you have heard of Hilda Tresz, Phoenix zoo and Jane Goodall Institute behavioural specialist who has been traveling during the last months between north and south America, the Middle East and North Africa; she gives her professional contribution to the work being carried out to integrate isolated chimps and create new groups in order to enrich their physical and behavioural life, sometimes this is ex-novo giving the chimps the possibility to have an intra-specific social life. The chimpanzee Meshmesh had not seen another chimp for more than 15 years. The work Hilda has done is a challenge to all of us, and you can imagine how proud we are for having contributed to the fulfilment of this goal. Personally, and on behalf of the Jane Goodall Institute of Italy, I also wish to thank Dina Zulficar for the excellent coordination work carried out during the many months of communication and preparation prior to integration, she never gave up despite difficulties but always encouraged the creation of new possibilities and ways to make this happen.

At this point I would love to go into philosophy (and the comical side too)… but it would be a bit long and Italianized, and you do not want to listen to my digressions on how cooperation can lead us all to a better world and how human dignity shows has its best expression in improving the lives of other living beings when they cannot manage it by themselves. Just please let me draw your attention to the fact that many people of different nationalities have contributed, as well as followed, to the achievement of this joint endeavour.

Thanks to all,
Daniela De Donno Mannini
Presidente
The Jane Goodall Institute Italia onlus

www.janegoodall-italia.org

Hilda Tresz with Dr. Osama Salim, Military General of Egypt