The three-part series will follow the work of wildlife vet Jimmy Desmond and his wife Jenny, who run a home for orphaned baby chimpanzees.

Starting with just two baby chimps rescued from the illegal pet trade, the Desmonds now house and care for 21 orphans.

Sharing close quarters with a pack of adopted dogs, the baby chimps cause mischief with their new adopted animal siblings. 

Since baby chimps form intensely close relationships with their mothers during their early years, Jimmy, Jenny and an army of care-givers work at all hours to help the babies recover from their trauma.

Sadly, many chimps will be unable to return to the wild as many were rescued before learning key survival skills.  The Desmonds will therefore be joined by an evolutionary biologist and conservationist, Professor Ben Garrod, who will help teach the chimps skills such as climbing, foraging for food and recognising danger in the hope that they can live independent lives within their new home.

Professor Garrod commented: “We are in a global crisis of climate change and biodiversity loss, and with everything seeming like an ecological uphill struggle, the story of the Desmonds battling to save our closest living relatives is a much needed good-news story.

“If we can save Max, Bui and their relatives, then it gives us hope for the future of countless other species, including ourselves."