‘Baby Chimp Rescue’ Recap: ‘Miracles Can Happen’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the premiere of ‘Baby Chimp Rescue’.

​Our modern world faces a great many problems. For the climate is in flux thanks to carbon emissions. Plus, there is unrest and hunger around the globe thanks to the Covid-19 Pandemic and societal problems in general and at times, hearing about these issues can outright bring us down. Because ugly news wears on a person’s mind and that’s why it is important to find good things to focus upon. To aid our mental health and to also remind us of the fact, that there are good people out there who are trying to make the world a better place in their own special way and oddly enough, BBC America is taking the time to spotlight that beautiful fact in the month of December, by way of a powerful and unique documentary.
​
For Baby Chimp Rescue is a series that takes the audience into the heart of a Chimpanzee rescue in Liberia, wherein its owners and operators, a couple named Jenny and Jim Desmond, care for chimpanzees that have suffered through some serious trauma. Because many of them were orphaned at a young age, due to the fact that poachers killed their parents and Jenny and Jim have taken it upon themselves to give these babies a fighting chance, by caring and nurturing for them alongside plenty more of their kind. And while that alone makes for an hour of beautiful television, the kind that puts a smile upon your face, since you get to see human beings caring for nature as it cares for us, the series premiere of this moving documentary went above and beyond in showing us just how far some people are willing to go to make the world a brighter price. 

Because ‘Miracles Can Happen’ also takes the time to explore how Jenny and Jim are eager to ensure that these cute little chimpanzees live a normal life, one where they have freedom and can do all the things that chimps in the wild do and in order to make that happen, they’re working toward building their own reserve. One where these primates can swing from the trees as they please. But since they have been around humans their entire lives, they are in need of some serious training. So that they have the proper skill set needed to survive in the wild and a fair chunk in this tale was focused upon said training, and it was just beautiful to see Jenny and Jim work to unleash the more primal instincts of these lovable and adorable primates, and such an act also helped to demonstrate the dedication that the Desmonds have to their cause and their endless patience. Since training wild animals is no easy task.

But what is truly amazing, is that Jenny and Jim’s actions in this tale, made it clear that they really want to right the wrongs that these chimps have experienced, and they want them to understand that mankind isn’t purely evil and is willing to do the right thing for animals and in need and that just made for some powerful moments, the kind that quite frankly moved this reviewer to tears. Especially when Jenny went on a mission to save a chimp that was chained up outside of town. Because she was quick to offer the chimpanzee that would come to be known as ‘Miracle’ nothing but love and understanding, and she even went so far as to provide the owner of this chimp with knowledge and empathy, despite the fact that said owner chained Miracle up. All because Jenny believes that education is the key to changing how people view these gentle animals. 

If anything, this really was quite the powerful opening chapter to what is likely going to be an incredibly moving documentary. For it really does offer the audience an unfettered look at the struggle that the Desmonds go through to keep this place going, and how hard they’re working to have their furry children ready to go when they finally secure the land they need for the forthcoming sanctuary. But what matters most, is that this documentary really does send your spirits soaring. Because Jenny and Jim are genuinely great human beings that really are doing some incredible work in Liberia, the kind that speaks to how there is beauty beneath the strife of the world, and it will be quite interesting to see what other beautiful moments await us as this wonderful series continues along. Until next time.

To learn more about Liberia Chimpanzee Rescue & Protection and their mission, or to support their cause, please visit their website.

---