Escape to Chimp Eden

As an animal lover, I enjoy watching Animal Planet. A particular documentary series, "Escape to Chimp Eden," has me enraptured every Friday night at nine p.m. Eugene Cussons has devoted his life to wildlife conservation, after being raised in a family run game reserve in South Africa. His attention turned to the dwindling population of chimpanzees due to loss of habitation, bush-meat trade by poachers, and live animal trade. Chimpanzees are the closest species to humans with their behaviors and degree of intelligence. Chimpanzees are the only animals capable of making tools to help them hunt for food. Eugene Cussons decided to devote his time to rescuing chimpanzees and donated part of his family's animal reserve specifically to a chimpanzee rescue habitat. His primary goals are to rehabilitate and teach chimpanzee's skills in order to return them to life in the wild if at all possible. Some chimpanzees can never be returned because of their long term human contact which includes their reliance on humans for food.

Approximately two years ago Eugene opened, Jane Goodall Institute's Chimp Eden, on a thousand acres of his family's animal reserve. Chimp Eden is co-owned by Eugene and Jane Goodall. Jane Goodall is a renowned primatologist who started the Jane Goodall Institute for Wildlife research, Education and Conservation, now located in Washington, D.C. Eugene is managing director of Chimp Eden and rescue director of Jane Goodall Institute in South Africa. (Information obtained from Escape to Chimp Eden's website detailed at end)

"Escape to Chimp Eden," is a documentary series telling the ongoing story of Eugene Cussons, Chimp Eden, and the presently nineteen chimpanzees in the animal sanctuary. You'll understand the dangers of chimpanzees kept in captivity by humans who use chimps for circus acts or keep them for pets. The chimpanzees are often malnourished, kept in inadequate quarters, and may have been mistreated and abused. Eugene Cussons travels with a vet and Chimp Eden employees to the known site of a captive chimpanzee. Eugene evaluates the situation in order to see the physical and mental state of the chimpanzee, and to see whether he can convince the owner to turn the chimp over to his Chimp Eden sanctuary. This may or may not be a simple procedure.

The recent, Escape to Chimp Eden, episode I viewed was titled, "A New Life for Suzie and Lily Part 1 and 2." Susie is a six year old chimp who was kept on a chain on a beach for a tourist photo attraction by her owner. She drank from a cement trough with brackish, slimy black water. Lily is a two year old chimp owned by a poacher who killed her mother and raised her from an infant. She is a playful but spoiled young chimp.

Once the owners agree to relinquish control, Eugene and his vet evaluate the chimpanzees. In order to do this the chimps have to be sedated which is a tricky situation because of the chimp's intelligence. It's also risky because of the unknown physical condition of the chimps. Once sedated the chimps are examined and blood is drawn, making sure the chimpanzees are free of infections or contagious diseases like malaria, and then they're transported to a safe house before being transported to, Chimp Eden.

Transferring the chimps to a travel cage can be a dangerous situation. Chimpanzees have massive strength and Eugene attempts to make the transfer as safe as possible for both the chimp and his staff. Some chimps are unsure of human contact because of having been abused and may strike out. Chimpanzees also acquire super strength. Suzie and Lily were relatively easy, with Suzie being introduced to her transport cage via assistance of a watermelon treat. Lily the infant chimp was easy to put in her cage via a leash, but she gave Eugene a scare when she managed to escape when Eugene was evaluating her skills climbing trees. Some residents fear chimpanzees and try to hurt them.

At, Chimp Eden, the new chimpanzees are quarantined, socially and physically evaluated. There are inside and outside infant and adult chimpanzee quarters. Again sedation is required to safely examine and treat any medical or dental conditions. One episode showed a chimpanzee who stopped breathing because of sedation, and mouth to mouth was administered, along with injections of anti-sedation medication to revive him.

Once the new chimps adapt to, Chimp Eden, they're slowly introduced to the larger chimpanzee family. This is a nerve wracking time for both Eugene and his staff, and the chimps. Some chimpanzees have never seen another one of their own kind. Chimpanzees also have a hierarchy with one head chimpanzee. He alone decides whether the new chimp will be accepted in the community and where their position will be. Attacks on the weakest chimps are common and the new chimps have to fight to fit in. The reality is with rehabilitation the chimps have to adjust to the natural order of their kind, in order to survive in the wild once released, though it is heartbreaking at times to watch and not want to intervene when a new chimp is attacked.

Escape to Chimp Eden, airs two half hour episodes shown back to back on Friday nights, but check your local television guide for the exact time in your area. Escape to Chimp Eden, shows the love and dedication Eugene Cussons and his staff have towards each chimpanzee at Jane Goodall Institute's Chimp Eden. Each chimpanzee is named if they don't have a name and given excellent care and attention. You can see how much Eugene cares for chimpanzees as he narrates everything he is doing. Escape to Chimp Eden, also introduces you to the various chimpanzee personalities. Eugene also educates you about the dangers chimpanzees face living in the dwindling African rainforests.

Jane Goodall Institute's Chimp Eden, in South Africa, relies on monetary donations. They also allow visits to the chimpanzee sanctuary for people interested in seeing the sanctuary. You can also financially adopt a chimpanzee.

I thoroughly recommend, Escape to Chimp Eden, for animal lovers and anyone interested in enjoying a wonderful, educational and entertaining show, dedicated to protecting chimpanzees, our closest human connection. I find myself wanting more as soon as it is finished.

You can find further information regarding, Escape to Chimp Eden, on animal planet's website, which provided me with additional information. The website for, Escape to Chimp Eden is, http://animal.discovery.com/tv/chimp-eden/chimp-eden.html You can watch videos, episodes of Escape to Chimp Eden, and find out information about Eugene Cussons and the Jane Goodall Institute.

You can also find out information about Jane Goodall and her wonderful work on her website, http://www.janegoodall.org/default.asp