First and foremost: we believe wild animals should never be kept in captivity. Chimpanzees, for example, deserve to live freely in their natural environment.
No matter how spacious or well-maintained a zoo enclosure might be, it can never replace the freedom of the wild.
That said, we couldn’t help but share this remarkable rescue story. It features a man who ignored warning signs and safety rules at a zoo — all to save a struggling chimpanzee.
Now that is what true heroism looks like.
The incident happened back in 1990, when a chimpanzee named Jo-Jo fell into a man-made moat inside the chimp enclosure at the Detroit Zoo. He had been chased by another, more aggressive chimp and accidentally leapt over a barrier meant to keep him away from the water.
Jo-Jo panicked and began flailing, struggling to keep his head above water. Around ten stunned onlookers stood frozen, watching helplessly as the chimp fought not to drown.
Among them was Rick Swope, a 33-year-old truck driver who had come to the zoo with his wife and three children. When he saw the terror in Jo-Jo’s eyes, he didn’t hesitate — he jumped into the water to save the distressed animal.
Keep in mind: chimpanzees are incredibly strong, up to five times more powerful than humans. The area was also off-limits to the public, and other chimps nearby could’ve reacted unpredictably or even violently.
Still, Rick didn’t pause. His family watched in awe as he reached Jo-Jo and tried to pull him to safety. It wasn’t easy.
At one point, Jo-Jo slipped from his grasp and sank below the surface. But Rick didn’t give up. After one more effort, he managed to lift the 200-pound (90 kg), 18-year-old chimpanzee out of the water and onto solid ground.
Jo-Jo was weak and in shock — but alive. Thanks to Rick, he had survived.
“He looked at me. I think he understood what was happening,” Rick later told the Chicago Tribune.