Salzburg is not only the birthplace of Mozart, but of Gut Aiderbichl, a paradise for animals. This extraordinary sanctuary is the brainchild of Michael Aufhauser, Austria and Germany’s own Doctor Dolittle. Visitors arrive at the complex of gorgeous chalets only to be nudged into considerable interspecies camaraderie with the hundreds of rescued goats, horses, donkeys, chickens, geese, cows and the odd fox. There are few sanctuaries like this one anywhere in the world.
Michael recently opened amazing outdoor enclosures for their ex-lab chimpanzees. When I watched a video of the chimps being let outside for the first time EVER in their lives I was so incredibly moved. I cheered and I cried. Michael is one of my biggest heros. You can learn more about the event HERE.
What Michael has done for these chimpanzees and so many other animals is so extraordinary. I was inspired to paint the piece below ..... a chimpanzee walking out of the turmoil of a life of experiments and torture into the sunlight.
Half of the proceeds of this piece will be donated to Gut Aiderbichl so that they can continue to rescue and
offer an amazing safe haven for animals in need.
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