'Baby Chimp Rescue' Review: Heartening tale of chimps being saved and a call to action to conserve wildlife
Baby Chimps are adorable. Period. They're manic, naughty, clumsy, but an absolute delight to spend time with. This is evident from 'Baby Chimp Rescue'—BBC America's three-part documentary that follows their turbulent journeys that makes them survivors. Their lives are always at risk and they find a safe haven at the Liberia Chimpanzee Rescue and Protection home run by American couple Jimmy and Jenny Desmond, who have their own story to share.
The chimps, if left uncared for either end up killed or sold illegally. And as difficult it is a pill to swallow, it is the sad truth. Their growth is traced as accurately as possible and technically, it isn't any different than raising babies. They tend to grow stronger, clever, and become a bit of a menace at times, however, watching them grow in the docu is a treat.
Rob Sullivan helms 'Baby Chimp Rescue' and places the spotlight on the Desmonds. The couple is passionate about their work and both have ample wildlife expertise to handle rescued chimps. Jimmy is a veterinarian while Jenny has been involved with various international programs concerning animals for well over a decade. The disassembled American Research Project saw a majority of these chimps shelterless and in the wild, they were vulnerable to attack, trades, and deaths.
The Desmonds dived in rescuing as many of these little imps. They were initially looking after two chimps, but now the tally touches 60 as they're everywhere. You could see them hanging off roofs, learning to eat and adapt to surroundings and each other. Getting these chimps to adapt is no easy task and despite having locals as caretakers for additional help, overcrowding is an issue.
In addition to showcasing how the couple combats these challenges, 'Baby Chimp Rescue' also outlines how the Desmonds do their bit to save more of these cute beings by working with local law enforcement agencies to arrest poachers and anyone who poses a potential threat to the safety of these chimps. As far as production goes, BBC America sticks to its tried-and-tested documentary templates that border on themes such as hope, excitement, and happiness.
Of course, while this adheres to the all's well that ends well adage, it truly does for these chimps who deserve a habitat that helps them thrive. They're an essential part of nature and in three crisp episodes, the docu covers as many details as possible while also interacting up close with the chimps. That it balances the past of the chimps and the Desmonds in equal measure shows the docu has in fact tried weaving in a heartening human interest piece of content.
Those interested in wildlife have every reason to watch 'Baby Chimp Rescue'. The docu is pretty much an eye-opener and is effective in its story-telling. The Desmonds and the chimps need our help and although it is put out rather mildly, it talks about the big picture— conserving wildlife, eradicate hunting, and torture. If anything it urges the audience to make a positive impact on nature and give back in equal measure.
Episode 1 of 'Baby Chimp Rescue' premieres Saturday, December 5th on BBC America at 8/7c