Thomas Brezina:

“Forgiveness is always a challenge”

Thomas Brezina took the opportunity to take a few photos before the reading

(Bild: Tschepp Markus)

Star author Thomas Brezina deals with the tragic fate of the Gut Aiderbichl residents in his new book.

In bright sunshine on Wednesday, author Thomas Brezina couldn't resist taking a few photos with the animals at Gut Aiderbichl. The star author posed casually and amusingly with donkeys and co. But Brezina's real interest has recently been increasingly focused on the tragic fates of the Gut Aiderbichl residents.

Thomas Brezina with Aiderbichl boss Dieter Ehrengruber

(Bild: Tschepp Markus)

His latest book "So what, said the white chimpanzee" is about the Gut Aiderbichl chimpanzees who, after years of isolation and torment as laboratory apes, are now allowed to live in freedom in Gänserndorf. "I wanted to tell the story through the eyes of a keeper who has looked after the chimpanzees from the very beginning," explains the author. Brezina was particularly touched by the fate of the little monkey "Gogo". The youngest of the bunch had his leg broken when he was captured. He was then put into the laboratory cage in the freezing cold.

The monkeys in Brezina's book manage to overcome low points like these and even forgive. "Forgiveness is always a challenge. But it is a liberation. We only harm ourselves with hate and anger," Brezina is convinced from his own experience.

Hundreds of visitors who came to the reading at Gut Aiderbichl in Henndorf on Wednesday took the moral of the story to heart. And they also had personal dedications written into the book by Thomas Brezina.