A family trip to the Detroit Zoo suddenly turned into a life-or-death rescue when a chimpanzee named Jo-Jo fell into a deep moat and began struggling to stay afloat.
Jo-Jo had been involved in a fight with another male chimpanzee when he ended up in the water surrounding the enclosure. Although chimpanzees are excellent climbers, they are not strong swimmers. Their body shape and relatively low body fat can make it difficult for them to remain buoyant.
As Jo-Jo struggled in the water, visitors watched helplessly from outside the enclosure. Zookeepers reportedly warned people not to enter the area because the chimpanzees could be dangerous.
But truck driver Rick Swope couldn’t stand by.
Swope, who was visiting the zoo with his family, watched as Jo-Jo desperately tried to keep his head above the water. He later recalled that the chimp appeared to be looking toward the crowd as if waiting for someone to help.
Despite the warnings, Swope climbed into the enclosure and entered the moat.
He managed to reach Jo-Jo and pull the struggling chimpanzee out of the water, bringing him safely back onto land.
The rescue wasn’t quite over. As soon as Jo-Jo was safe, another chimpanzee appeared, forcing Swope to quickly get out of the enclosure.
Swope later played down the attention he received, saying he simply couldn’t stand there knowing the chimp might drown.
What looked like an ordinary family trip had ended with one visitor taking an extraordinary risk to save an animal in desperate need. 🐒❤️