Escape to Chimp Eden
Escape to Chimp Eden is a television series broadcast on the Animal Planet network that premiered on February 8, 2008. The series examines the rescue of abused and neglected chimpanzees.
Escape to Chimp Eden | |
---|---|
Genre | Nature, documentary |
Created by | Eugene Cussons |
Directed by | Anton Truesdale |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language(s) | English |
No. of seasons | 2 |
No. of episodes | 32 |
Production | |
Executive producer(s) | Erik Nelson Dave Harding Phil Fairclough |
Production location(s) | South Africa |
Running time | 30 minutes |
Release | |
Original network | Animal Planet |
Original release | February 8, 2008 |
External links | |
Website |
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.[1]
"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.
Featured chimpanzees
Chimp | Approx. Age | Date of Rescue | Status | Enclosure |
---|---|---|---|---|
Abu | 16 Years | March 2006 | Deceased | N/A |
Amadeus | 13 Years | March 2006 | Alpha Male | Adult |
Azie | 1.5 Years | July 2008 | Infant Female | Juvenile 2 |
Bazia | 3 Years | July 2008 | Infant Female | Juvenile 2 |
Bruce | Unknown | Died at Sudan Safe House 2007 | Deceased | N/A |
Charlene | 2.5 Years | July 2008 | Infant Female | Juvenile 2 |
Charles | Unknown | November 2008 | Alpha Male | Juvenile 2 |
Charlie | 2 Years | April 2007 | Infant Male | Juvenile 1 |
Claudette | 14 Years | January 1996,
Moved from Johannesburg Zoo to Chimp Eden in 2008 |
3rd Female | Adult |
Cozi | 11 Years | April 2006 | 3rd Male | Juvenile 1 |
Dinka | 2 Years | April 2007 | Infant Male | Juvenile 1 |
Gida | 7 Years | October 2006 | Deceased | N/A |
Jessica | 25 Years | December 2008 | Adult Female | Juvenile 2 |
Jinga | 13 Years | November 2006 | Alpha Female | Adult |
Jao | 60-65 Years | April 2006 | 2nd Male | Juvenile 1 |
Josephine | 18 Years | October 2007 | Adult Female | Adult |
Lika | 13 Years | October 2006 | 5th Female | Adult |
Lily | 2 Years | July 2008 | Infant Female | Juvenile 2 |
Marco | 5 Years | July 2008 | Infant Male | Juvenile 2 |
Martha | 14 Years | July 2008 | Adult Female | Juvenile 2 |
Mary | 3.5 Years | July 2008 | Infant Female | Juvenile 2 |
Mimi | 13 Years | October 2006 | 2nd Female | Adult |
Mowgli | 3.5 Years | July 2008 | Infant Male | Juvenile 2 |
Nicky | 11 Years | March 2006 | 2nd Male | Adult
Deceased |
Nina | 4 Years | April 2007 | Infant Female | Juvenile 1 |
Sally | 3 Years | July 2006 | Infant Female | Juvenile 1 |
Sampa | 5 Years | October 2007 | Adolescent Female | Juvenile 1 |
Suzie | 6 Years | July 2008 | Adult Female | Juvenile 2 |
Tamu | 1.5 Years | July 2008 | Infant Male | Juvenile 2 |
Thomas | 4 Years | April 2007 | Infant Male | Juvenile 1 |
Tony | 3 Years | October 2007 | Infant Male | Juvenile 1 |
Xena | 4 Years | July 2006 | Infant Female | Juvenile 1 |
Zac | 17 Years | October 2006 | Alpha Male | Juvenile 1 |
Zee | 2 Years | April 2007 | Infant Female | Juvenile 1 |
Between Seasons 1 & 2, both Abu and Gida died. Gida died in the episode The Rise and Fall of Gida due to captive chimp syndrome, suffering complications from organ failure. Abu's death was also aired in a previous episode.
See also
- Animal rights
- Animal rescue (disambiguation)
- Animal sanctuary
- Animal welfare
- Cruelty to animals
References
-
- Lafayette, Jon. Chimps find Eden on Animal Planet January 16, 2008. Retrieved January 29, 2008.
External links
- Official website
- TV Week: "Chimps Find Eden on Animal Planet". Jon Lafayette. January 16, 2008. Retrieved January 30, 2008.
- JGI Chimpanzee Eden website