What This Chimp Did At The 3:10 Mark Of This Video Choked Me Up. It’s A Must See.

Jane Goodall is a British primatologist that is known for being the world’s foremost expert on chimpanzees. She has a great love of animals, but most of all chimps. She formed the Jane Goodall Institute, an international wildlife and environment conservation organization, to help protect those animals she loves so dearly.
Some of the work that the Institute does is truly moving. This story of a chimp they brought back from death’s door, for example, is incredible. In the Republic of Congo, the Jane Goodall Institute’s Tchimpounga Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Center found a chimpanzee that was near death. They called her “Wounda,” which meant “close to dying.” You’ll see why.

Wounda was barely alive when she was found. The rescue had to take immediate action to save her life.

Jane Goodall Institute
Thanks to Dr. Rebeca Atencia, Wounda came back from the dead. The rescue fed her and tended to her diligently.
Jane Goodall Institute
The chimp was losing weight fast, but thanks to the round-the-clock care by the Institute, she began to fight her illness and put weight back on.
Jane Goodall Institute
Each morning, the sick girl drank a liter of milk.
Jane Goodall Institute
After a while, she was healthy and able to fend for herself. It was time to release her.
Jane Goodall Institute
Wounda was ready to be back in the wild with other chimps.
Jane Goodall Institute
Thanks to the care at Tchimpounga, she was good as new.
Jane Goodall Institute
Wounda was loaded up into a crate, ready to see her new home.
Jane Goodall Institute
The rescuers brought her to a sanctuary site on Tchindzoulou Island in the nearby Kouilou River.
Jane Goodall Institute
But, before exploring her new home, Wounda did something amazing.
Jane Goodall Institute
She clutched at Jane, giving her a BIG chimpanzee hug.
Jane Goodall Institute
Wounda was saying “thank you” to her caretakers.
Jane Goodall Institute
She knew that Jane and the other rescuers were responsible for saving her life.
Jane Goodall Institute
Then, after the emotional goodbye, she carefully began exploring…
Jane Goodall Institute
When she realized that she was free and healthy, you could see it on her face.
Jane Goodall Institute
That’s a look of pure happiness.
Jane Goodall Institute
She’s going to have a good life here.
Jane Goodall Institute

You can watch Wounda’s touching release in the video below. When you see what this chimpanzee did in action, you might just need to grab a few tissues. It’s incredible.

Animals have emotions, just like we do. It’s obvious in the video that the chimpanzee was feeling something, whether it was gratitude or just happiness, we’ll never know. I’m just glad that this sweet girl was saved from a terrible fate.
Source: Jane Goodall Institute via Daily Mail