Escape to Chimp Eden Season 1 Episode 1 Josephine: Race For Life

Escape to Chimp Eden is a show about the rescue and rehabilitation of chimpanzees who have suffered from various forms of abuse or mistreatment by humans. Season 1 episode 1, entitled "Josephine: Race for Life," takes us to South Africa's Umhloti Nature Reserve where Eugene Cussons has opened a sanctuary for chimpanzees in need of a safe haven from harm.

The episode begins with a brief introduction to the rescued chimps and their stories before we are introduced to Josephine, a severely traumatized female chimpanzee who was rescued from a medical research laboratory. Josephine spent the first 17 years of her life in a small cage in complete isolation, subject to painful and invasive experiments. She was severely underweight, weak, and malnourished with little or no muscle mass, and had never seen or experienced anything outside her captivity.

Cussons, who is a renowned animal behavior expert, has trained for months to win Josephine's trust so that they can administer the first comprehensive medical exam and blood test she has ever had. The results of these tests will determine if Josephine is fit enough for surgery to remove an enlarged uterus, which poses a significant risk to her life if left untreated.

We see Cussons using various techniques to gain Josephine's trust, including offering her treats, playing with her hair, and patiently waiting for her to approach him. Eventually, after months of perseverance, Josephine begins to show signs of trust, allowing Cussons to touch and hold her hand, and allowing him to examine her medical issues more closely.

The episode then takes an exciting turn as it emerges that Josephine's condition is rapidly deteriorating, meaning that the medical team has to act fast if they are to save her life. Cussons and the team race against the clock to not only perform the surgery needed to remove her uterus, but also deal with a sudden onset of sepsis, which causes Josephine's vital signs to drop dramatically.

Despite the odds, Cussons and his team are successful in performing the life-saving operations, and Josephine is shown making a remarkable recovery. We are shown footage of her in her new outdoor habitat, playing and interacting with the other chimps, an image that is a far cry from the isolation and torture she experienced earlier in her life.

The episode concludes on a positive note, with a message of hope for the other rescued chimpanzees, and for viewers around the world who are shown the impact that one person can make to the lives of these animals. Overall, "Josephine: Race for Life" is an emotional and impactful episode, offering a glimpse into the important work of chimpanzee rescue and rehabilitation, and the incredible bond that can be formed between humans and chimpanzees.