When 59-year-old chimpanzee Mama was dying, she wouldn’t eat or drink. She was incredibly weak and in pain as the end of her life was quickly approaching. Then a visit from an old friend gave her a spark that will bring a tear to your eye.
Mama was the matriarch of a group of chimps living at the Royal Burgers Zoo in the Netherlands. She was the dominant female and known as “the grand lady” of the colony. She was born in the wild in 1957 and was the oldest chimp at the zoo.
She had been incredibly frail for days when Professor Jan van Hooff paid the dying chimp a visit. Van Hooff was the co-founder of the chimp colony and was one of Mama’s first caregivers. It didn’t take long for the lethargic primate to recognize her friend who had come to say goodbye to her.
The video below is incredibly touching. When Mama sees Jan’s face, she musters the energy to give a smile that could light 100 rooms. Mama strokes his hair and brings him closer to her so they can embrace. More importantly, she takes some food from him. It was the first time she had eaten in days. Keep a Kleenex handy as you watch this emotional video.
What a bond they must have had. Mama passed away after the tear-inducing visit that occurred April 2016. This video is an amazing reminder of the emotions that chimpanzees have. While they are obviously different from humans, we have much in common with each other. Jan and Mama clearly had a bond that lasted long after they parted ways at the zoo.
An old friend came to say goodbye to this chimpanzee. His visit brought her comfort and happiness when she needed it the most! What a beautiful story.
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Source: Mirror