Escape to Chimp Eden

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Escape to Chimp Eden is a television series broadcast on the Animal Planet network that started 8 February 2008. The series examines the rescue of abused and neglected chimpanzees.

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.

1 Featured Chimpanzees
2 See also
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Featured Chimpanzees

Chimp	Approx. Age	Date of Rescue	Status	Enclosure
Abu	16 Years	March 2006	Alpha Male	Adult
Amadeus	13 Years	March 2006	2nd Male	Adult
Charlie	2 Years	April 2007	New Infant	Infant
Cozy	11 Years	April 2006	2nd Male	Infant
Dinka	2 Years	April 2007	New Infant	Infant
Gida	7 Years	October 2006	2nd Female	Adult
Joao	44 Years	April 2006	Alpha Male	Infant
Jinga	13 Years	October 2006	New Female	Adult
Josephine	18 Years	October 2007	New Female	Adult
Lika	13 Years	October 2006	3rd Female	Adult
Mimi	13 Years	October 2006	Dominant Female	Adult
Nicky	11 Years	March 2006	3rd Male	Adult
Nina	4 Years	April 2007	New Infant	Infant
Sally	3 Years	July 2006	Infant Female	Infant
Sampa	5 Years	October 2007	Infant Female	Infant
Thomas	4 Years	April 2007	New Infant	Infant
Tony	3 Years	October 2007	Infant Male	Infant
Zac	17 Years	October 2006	New Male	Adult
Zee	2 Years	July 2006	New Infant	Infant
Zeena	4 Years	July 2006	Infant Female	Infant