To begin with, we believe that wild animals should not be kept in zoos. Take chimpanzees, for instance; they deserve the chance to live freely in their natural habitats.

Regardless of the size of their enclosures or the quality of care they receive, they are always better suited to life in the wild.

That said, we felt compelled to share this rescue video with you. It features a man who bravely ignores the zoo’s warning signs and regulations to jump into an enclosure and save a chimpanzee.

Now that’s what we define as true heroism!

In 1990, a chimpanzee named Jo-Jo found himself in a precarious situation when he fell into a man-made moat within his enclosure at the Detroit Zoo. He had been pursued by a more aggressive chimp and managed to leap over the fence designed to keep him out of the water.

As Jo-Jo struggled to stay afloat, around ten stunned onlookers witnessed the alarming scene unfold. Among them was Rick Swope, a 33-year-old truck driver who was visiting with his wife and three children. Seeing the fear in Jo-Jo’s eyes compelled him to take action, and without a second thought, he jumped into the water to rescue the chimp.

It’s important to note that chimpanzees can be up to five times stronger than humans. Additionally, Jo-Jo was in a restricted area, surrounded by other chimps that could potentially become aggressive.

Despite the risks, Rick acted decisively. His family watched in amazement as he struggled to pull Jo-Jo from the water. The rescue was challenging; at one point, Rick lost his grip, and Jo-Jo sank beneath the surface. However, after another determined effort, Rick successfully brought the 18-year-old, 200-pound (90 kg) chimp to safety.

Though Jo-Jo emerged from the ordeal in poor shape, he was alive, thanks to Rick’s bravery. “He was looking at me. I think he knew what was going on,” Rick shared with the Chicago Tribune.

You can see the courageous rescue here:

Help honor the incredible bravery of the truck driver by sharing this video!