In 2010, a female orangutan was found in a village in Indonesia. Local villagers had imprisoned her for six years. When found, the orangutan’s fur had been shaved off. She was also chained. An investigation revealed a shocking truth.
Since AIDS was discovered, it has been a global problem. Infection with this virus casts a shadow of death around the patient. Even wealthy individuals have no cure. Topics related to AIDS are often avoided. People are afraid to face it. What is the origin of this severe disease? Many believe AIDS came from African great apes. So, how did the virus spread to humans?
Pony: An Orangutan’s Tragic Story of Abuse
In 2010, an Indonesian orangutan named Pony drew attention. She’d been imprisoned by locals for six years. During this time, Pony suffered cruel treatment. Her fur had been shaved. Her skin was covered in bruises. When rescuers arrived, Pony made provocative gestures. This left rescuers puzzled. Why did she have such strange behavior? What had happened during her imprisonment? An investigation revealed the truth. 
From Rainforest to Captivity: The Capture of Pony
In 2003, a tropical rainforest in Indonesia was home to diverse life. Orangutan groups lived in the trees. Due to human greed, the orangutans were hunted for profit. Adult orangutans are usually very aggressive. They’re hard to tame, and many are killed.
Pony was different. She didn’t resist being captured. Instead, she tried to survive. She was sold to a circus.
Life in the Circus and the Cruel Abuse Begins
At the circus, Pony performed on stage. People pointed at her. The circus didn’t earn much. Pony rarely had enough to eat. Then, an Indonesian woman appeared. Pony’s nightmare had just begun. She was taken to the woman’s home. The woman chained her and locked her in a basement room.
Dehumanization and Exploitation
To make money, the woman dressed Pony like a human. She shaved her red hair and bought her floral dresses. She even put on earrings. Without her fur, Pony’s skin was bitten by insects. She was covered in scratches and blood. The woman saw her as a tool for making money. She didn’t want to spend any money to treat her.
Pony learned to read the woman’s face. She even tried to please her. She did this to avoid abuse. The woman began to promote her. She charged villagers two pounds to have sex with Pony.
The Horrifying Truth Unveiled
Many villagers came to watch. But they didn’t pay for fun. Apes aren’t human. If Pony went crazy, it wouldn’t be fun.
However, curiosity won. Someone paid the two pounds. They entered Pony’s room. Her limbs were chained. She couldn’t move. The man left satisfied. More and more people came. Pony’s body was abused by strangers. She could only struggle and resist. This brought beatings.
Later, Pony gave up resisting. She knew obedience meant food. It also meant avoiding beatings. She began to cooperate.
Pony became famous. This drew the attention of animal protection groups. Rescuers came to the village. They revealed the truth. Many didn’t believe it. Some even linked local AIDS cases to the ape.
Understanding AIDS: A Global Threat
AIDS is a contagious disease. Many think it’s far away. However, people with AIDS may be nearby. You just don’t know it. The first AIDS patients appeared in Africa. Some believe the virus came from African great apes. Experts pointed the finger at apes.
Decades ago, the first AIDS virus was found in a blood sample. This was in Kinshasa, Africa. It proved he was patient zero. The virus spread outward. By 2020, 37.7 million people worldwide had AIDS. Africa has weak healthcare. Most cases are there.
AIDS is terrible because of a virus. This virus causes immune deficiency. It attacks the immune system. It makes CD4 cells drop rapidly. It causes the body to lose resistance. Even a slight cold can be deadly.
The immune system loses its ability to protect. Other viruses take advantage. This causes infections. Without treatment, AIDS patients suffer. Their lives are threatened. Medicine can only extend life.
How Did AIDS Jump from Chimpanzees to Humans?
First, there must be a patient zero. Every disease has a patient zero. This is the first infected person. Apes’ genes are similar to humans. If patient zero had contact with apes, infection isn’t surprising. Some people can’t control their desires. They get infected without knowing. By the time they find out, it’s too late.
Gaetan Dugas brought AIDS from Africa to the world. He was open-minded. He enjoyed new things. He was also a homosexual. Dugas had rashes and bruises. He died of kidney failure at 31.
Later, 8 of 19 AIDS patients were linked to Dugas. He was named patient zero. Did Dugas have contact with apes? There’s no proof. It’s just local rumors.
Second, did AIDS come from great apes? AIDS caused a global uproar. Scientists did experiments. Four strains came from Cameroonian apes. This confirmed the source.
Apes are intelligent animals. But apes’ immunity is stronger than humans’. 30% to 70% of apes don’t get sick from AIDS. They just carry it.
Apes evolved. They have cells that limit virus replication. Humans don’t have this ability. AIDS shortens the lifespan of humans. Human immunity is destroyed. The virus spreads freely. It threatens health.
The Role of Environment and Practices in Spreading AIDS
Africa’s environment plays a role. The economy is weak. People lack hygiene. With little food and poor conditions, health is weak. Contagious diseases spread quickly. That’s why Africa has so many AIDS cases.
Africa is hot. It has tropical jungles. These are home to apes. Apes’ numbers are rising. Locals contact apes often. They even hunt them.
There have been reports. African villagers hunt apes. They photograph their kills. Some sell apes to zoos. Some sell them to circuses. They get paid a lot. But taming apes isn’t easy. They fight back. Hunters are easily injured. The hunters can catch the AIDS virus from apes’ blood.
AIDS spreads through sex. If someone has sex with an ape, they become a source. This can spread the virus rapidly. Africa’s healthcare can’t control it.
The Dark Side of Blood Trade
Third, Africans sell blood. Africans have little income. They can’t feed their families. They sell blood to survive. Witch doctors are common. They believe that drinking blood can help with illnesses. This makes blood selling a market.
Blood draws are unsafe. Multiple people share needles. This spreads the virus through blood. Selling blood brings income. But it also brings risk. If they get AIDS, treatment is unaffordable. The whole family suffers.
If a person with AIDS sells blood, cross-infection increases. That’s why AIDS is so common in Africa.
Final Thoughts
AIDS has brought great disaster to humans. There’s no cure yet. To avoid this disease, be self-disciplined. Treat wildlife well. Put down weapons. Live peacefully with nature. Make the environment harmonious.
