Escape To Chimp Eden - History

History

Caught up in the turmoil of war-torn countries, chimps frequently become orphans of the bushmeat trade, sold at markets or auctions, according to Animal Planet. Chimps also are caged for entertainment or chained as pets. With only about 150,000 chimps remaining in the wild, the chimpanzee population is being destroyed and the lives of these creatures are being degraded.

Eugene Cussons, South African rescue director for Chimp Eden, a sanctuary at the Jane Goodall Institute in the Mpumalanga region of South Africa is the human star of the show. Cussons helps rescue chimps and prepare them for life in the wild, researching the locations of abused and neglected chimps and then either negotiating or forcing them away from their neglectful owners, taking them to the safety of Chimp Eden.

"Call it fate, call it divine intervention, but I felt drawn to the cause of rescuing and rehabilitating chimpanzees," Cussons said. "I was looking to be part of something bigger than myself."

His connection with the chimps is evident when he teaches 11-year-old Cozi to climb a tree for the first time. "Cozi never had been up a tree before, and I could feel he was nervous of falling but also elated by the new experience," said Cussons. "As he put his arm around my shoulders for security, I felt then that, although we belonged to different species, Cozi saw me not just as a friend but a brother he trusted with his life."

Escape to Chimp Eden is produced for Animal Planet by Creative Differences and Triosphere. Phil Fairclough, Dave Harding, and Erik Nelson are executive producers for Creative Differences. Oloff Bergh is an executive producer for Triosphere. Jason Carey is executive producer for Animal Planet.