Escape to Chimp Eden

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ESCAPE TO CHIMP EDEN

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It was an improbable dream that has become an impressive reality in just a few short years.

Deep in the heart of South Africa, the Jane Goodall Institute's Chimp Eden Sanctuary is a place of rebirth and renewal for more than two dozen chimps, most of whom suffered horrible lives in human captivity.

Sanctuary Director Eugene Cussons has traveled throughout Africa at great personal risk to give these chimps the chance of a meaningful and fulfilling life. For Eugene, however, the dream extends beyond the sanctuary itself. He is convinced that through intense hands-on rehabilitation, he can teach these remarkable animals the skills they need to survive in the wild.

The success of his approach is on display at every turn. Chimps who never-before climbed a tree now swing effortlessly from branch to branch, high above the ground. Chimps who once survived on table scraps and garbage now feast on wild figs, crack nutshells with rocks to get to the meat inside and pick through tall grass for the ripest shoots. Chimps who spent years alone and isolated in cramped cages now thrive in solid and stable family groups.

Every day, Eugene moves closer to his ultimate goal — returning the strongest and most skilled chimps back to the rainforest where they belong.

Yet, there are always setbacks. Some chimps are so humanized they resist their own natural instincts, while others constantly test the physical boundaries of the sanctuary. At any moment, any one of them can turn vicious and lash out.

This is real life. Chimps get sick; chimps get hurt; and, sadly, chimps die.

Escape to Chimp Eden presents this powerful, on-going drama through the transparent eye of documentary realism. This is not just an animal story; it is the emotional and moving saga of one man's unique bond with our closest primate cousins and his fierce dedication to their survival.

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About Escape to Chimp Eden

Meet Eugene Cussons

Meet the Chimps

Visit the Chimp Eden Sanctuary

See Chimp Eden Photos

Adopt a Chimpanzee

Solve Chimp Eden Puzzles

Chimp Eden Episode Guide

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ANIMAL GAMES AND INTERACTIVES

CHIMP EDEN VIDEOS

Escape to Chimp Eden Videos
Go behind the scenes of Escape to Chimp Eden. Join host Eugene Cussons for a tour of the Chimp Eden sanctuary, learn more about many of your favorite, including Jao, Cozi, Zac and Xena, and watch highlights from the series.

ABOUT CHIMPANZEES

How Chimpanzees Work
The chimpanzee has long forearms, which extend to the knees. It usually walks on all fours but occasionally walks upright. Learn how chimpanzees work at HowStuffWorks.com.

Are Chimpanzees Evolving in the Wild?
If you were to put a sample of chimpanzee DNA next to a sample of human DNA — and if you had any idea what you were looking at—you would see that the samples are nearly identical. Find out more about chimpanzees evolving at HowStuffWorks.com.

All About the Chimpanzee
Find out all about our closest relative, the chimpanzee in our Wild Animals A-Z guide!