Chimpanzee welcomes visitor with open arms after abandoned alone on island for years (2)

Ponso was one of 20 chimps, all between the ages of seven to 11 years old, relocated to an island off the Ivory Coast after being used for testing by the New York Blood Center

Eleven died within months after the relocation and the nine surviving chimps, including Ponso (pictured) and his family, were moved once again

The chimps, many captured from the wild, were used for hepatitis research. They were biopsied, anesthetized and chained by their necks to jungle gyms, according to The Dodo.

After the tests were completed, the lab reportedly transferred the chimps to a string of islands, intermittently dropping off food and water because there was none in the chimps' new homes.