Bolt

Imagine you are a 5-year-old male chimpanzee. You have recently been weaned because your mother just gave birth to your baby brother. You like to play and investigate your surroundings. Your mother used to carry you around, either on her belly or on her back. But you are too big for that now. Besides, there is no space there because of the new baby. You like to walk in front of your mother now, something you used to be afraid of.

Nearby is a village. The people in the village hunt for meat. Bushmeat. They are not commercial hunters, this village only hunts for themselves, to have something to eat. Well, okay, they kill a few duikers and monkeys sometimes to sell on the market. Bushmeat is really wanted on the market. People pay a lot of money for good meat. But the forest contains many animals right? They have always been there and they will always be there, right? They know it is illegal to hunt for chimpanzees and gorillas. They only hunt for small animals. Sometimes with guns, sometimes with snares………..

You are happy. A new day just started. You and your family are on your way in search for food. There is a big fruit tree, just a little bit further alongside the trail. As you walk in front of your mother, thinking about eating those juicy fruits, you feel a sharp pain in your hand. You are stuck. You try to get the wire of your wrist, but it just hurts more. You scream. Your mother is alarmed. She can't help you.

The hunter and his son leave their house to check his snares. The hunter is happy. How many hares and duikers will he have caught? His gun rests on his shoulder. His son walks in front of him. As they walk deep into the forest, they hear the screams. The hunter is alarmed. This is not a hare. He knows this sound. As he approaches the snare, he sees the chimpanzees. He knows this could mean a lot of money for his family. 

You notice that your mother doesn't know what to do. She doesn't want to leave you. But she knows humans, and their guns. She decides to stay and protect you. Her children are all she has. You hear a noise, and your mother falls to the ground. The baby screams, he's hurt too. Blood is coming from her body. Now you see the hunter. He approaches your mother and kicks her. She doesn't move. The baby cries as the hunter's son is picking him up. You try to get closer to bite the hunter. But the wire is too short, it only hurts more. The hunter gets his machete and your mother is being cut to pieces in front of your eyes. Suddenly you are hit on your head, and the world becomes black and painless……

The hunter removes the blood from the machete and puts the body parts in the bag he carried along. He wants to sell them on the market tomorrow. He cuts the snare and picks up the unconscious chimpanzee. He is happy. This is his lucky day. A lot of bushmeat and two little chimpanzees, which he can sell too. They walk back to the village.

As you awaken, you feel a chain tied to you waist. You are in a lot of pain, but you try to climb a high up in the tree as the chain allows you. A whimpering sound comes from the small cage next to the house. It is your baby brother. You cannot reach him. He's too far away. The children from the village offer you bananas. When you try to bite them, they hit you with sticks.

A few days later, you are still in the tree. You saw your brother die from dehydration. He was too young to survive. The chain has caused deep smelly wounds around your waist. You wish you would die too……