Woman Raised Chimps - 18 Years Later, They Reunite

Aug 12, 2019 by apost team

A person who is kind to animals is like a light in the darkness. People who dedicate their lives to the protection and service of animals are a beacon to humanity, showing everyone how to treat one another.

Linda Koebner took that service to new heights in actually raising several chimpanzees at a wildlife sanctuary.

According to the Telegraph, Koebner found an affinity with chimps from a young age. After graduating from high school, Koebner focused her college studies on animal behavior, eventually entering graduate school. It was in graduate school that the 23-year-old Koebner undertook a special research project that involved caring for three chimpanzees.

The cute little apes were only six years old, having spent most of their lives in a lab. Upon being rescued, conservationists wanted to put the three chimps in a special sanctuary, but they needed to be cared for first. Koebner jumped at the chance to improve the lives of the beautiful animals.

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The young researcher had her work cut out for her. After years spent in a lab, the three chimps were frightened of their new surroundings, refusing to even leave their cages.

Settling into her routine, Koebner named her new friends Doll, Swing, and Sparky. Koebner later joked that she came up with the names because all three of them were dolls, but were also prone to mood swings, which made working with them a little bit sparky.

Over the course of four years, Koebner helped acclimate Doll, Swing, and Sparky to their new home on an island in Florida. The three fast friends eventually learned to love the feel of the grass beneath them and the wind as it flowed through their hair.

Koebner even got a job with the sanctuary after she graduated to make sure that her friends were okay. As fate would have it, Koebner had to move on with her career, leaving Doll, Swing, and Sparky to their new life at the sanctuary.

After 18 years, Koebner returned to the sanctuary, eagerly waiting her reunion with her three animal friends. Approaching the island by boat, a camera crew recorded the beautiful moment.

At first the three weren’t sure who it was, but when Swing saw it was his mom, he couldn’t help but have the biggest smile on his face. The other two eventually recognized Koebner, smiling and hugging their long-lost mom. Koebner spent the entire day on the island, playing and catching up with her three children.

In addition to the beautiful reunion with Doll, Swing, and Sparky, Koebner was also happy to see how her work had improved the lives of other animals in her 18-year absence. Because of all the work  she did with Doll, Swing, and Sparky, an additional 30 chimps now lived on the island sanctuary.

What do you think of Koebner’s story? Have you ever been so close to an animal that you think of it as your child? Let us know in the comments, and make sure you pass this along to your friends and family!