Baby chimpanzee lunges into caretaker's arms — tearful reunion proves how deeply animals feel
Family isn't always blood-related; sometimes, it's the unexpected bond created with genuine strangers that gains precedence over blood relations. This explains why a baby chimpanzee looked thrilled upon meeting their caretaker after being separated for a while. In the video posted by u/zzill6, the baby chimp can be seen running to the man, clinging to him for dear life.
The man who probably raised the baby chimp got down on his knees, waiting for his favorite creature with open arms. Within seconds, the chimpanzee dashed into the man's embrace, as if this was the moment they had been waiting for so long. They held on to each other as true soulmates do, like their lives depended on that bone-crushing hug. One look at the man, and you would know how the father in him suffered because of the long separation. At one point, the caretaker broke the hug, only for a second, to gently pull the baby chimpanzee back into his loving arms. Surprisingly, without uttering a single word, his eyes spoke volumes about how much he'd missed the little guy.
In a world where we wake up to countless news stories about chimpanzees suffering in captivity, this profound incident reminds us to be a little considerate towards them, as they, too, experience emotions. According to an astonishing report by the Jane Goodall Institute, Canada, chimpanzees are capable of experiencing a wide range of feelings, including joy, happiness, and empathy. The report also claims that chimps often help each other when needed and are extremely social animals. Besides, when a chimpanzee feels anxious or stressed, other members of the group hug or groom them for support. This shows the ardent need for the 'village' concept's comeback. In a rapidly alienating society where one feels lonely even in a crowd, it's important to know that we were always meant to have a 'community' to aid our wellbeing (as we would aid theirs).
The post received an overwhelming response, making netizens smile through tears. For instance, u/top_benefit9454 commented, "My heart just melted into a puddle. The purest little hug machine was finally reunited!" Echoing the sentiments, u/jchrisboynton said, "I honestly believe animals love more purely than humans ever will." u/responsible_word5346 wrote, "He seems to have a smile. He’s happy to see his friend come back." u/musicplay313 commented, "He was trying his best to run faster with those tiny legs!"
On the other hand, a user who goes by u/itsthenugget on Reddit shared, "So cute. Reminds me of a toy I had as a kid. In America, we had these things called FurReal Friends, which were stuffed animals with batteries that allowed the kid to interact with them. So it would make noise, and you could care for it like a baby — feed it, tickle its foot, and give it a hug when it opens its arms for one. I had the chimp and one of the dogs." Similarly, another user who goes by u/patmcrotch210, on the platform, pointed at the chimpanzee's cute shirt and said, "Definitely not a Lakers fan, but that romper lil Chimpy's rocking is super adorable."