Monday 9th March at 6:30pm on five
Returning to Five this week is the documentary series following the day-to-day lives of over 250 monkeys, chimps, orangutans and other animals that live in one of the largest primate rescue centres in the world.
Set in the Monkey World Ape Rescue Centre in Dorset, this much-loved series follows the nail-biting rescue and rehabilitation stories of some of the most abused and neglected primates in the world. Each episode focuses on the unwavering hard work of Alison Cronin and her team in their ongoing mission to stop the illegal smuggling of primates from the wild.
Since its doors were first opened, Monkey World has rescued primates from 18 different countries all over the world. The most recent country to benefit from the centre’s work is Chile, where animals were being used in laboratories, as exotic pets, as photographers’ props and as circus animals. Once the animals have been safely transferred to Devon, the primate care staff at Monkey World ensure that their charges are given the best possible love and attention for the rest of their lives.
In the opening episode of the series on Monday , the 88 capuchin monkeys rescued from a research laboratory in Chile wake up to their first morning at Monkey World. Over in the Chimp nursery, Rodders has a run-in with a sticky melon. And the park’s naughtiest resident, Seamus the chimp, comes face to face with alpha male Butch in the bachelor pad.
In Tuesday’s instalment, chimps Ben and Pip are due to be moved out of the nursery and into Hananya’s group –but they give wildlife vet John Lewis the run around when he tries to sedate them. Alison is worried about how the recently rescued male capuchins will react when they are moved in together. And orangutan Kai proves she has far too much energy for the rest of her group.
On Wednesday , the team is forced to step in when the chimp introduction goes wrong and Ben is injured by the alpha male. Orangutan Hsiao-Quai struggles with her ever-growing son Kai. And the park’s staff prepare to welcome another baby orangutan into the fold.
Thursday’s episode sees Hananya show that he is not so tough when it comes to needles! The other chimps, meanwhile, enjoy a ‘banana-fishing’ expedition. Elsewhere, Alison and Jeremy are in Hertfordshire to re-home two more capuchin monkeys, and there is an exciting development among the endangered gibbons.
In the final installment of the week on Friday , resident capuchin TJ joins the new Chilean arrivals, but he seems to be in a mischievous mood. Alpha male chimp Paddy has to step in and keep his unruly troop in line. Orangutan Amy is pregnant, but no one knows if she will able to care for her baby when it is born. And it is teeth-cleaning time in Hananya’s house.
