“Chimp Empire” is a four part docu-series on Netflix that follows two separate chimpanzee groups in Uganda. This docu-series gives you an intimate look into the social connections and lives of chimps, including grooming, playing, hunting, and eating. Grooming among chimps is an important social behavior. This is because it helps to maintain status and bonds between the chimps. It is also important because grooming helps remove insects and parasites. This series helps to explain the territorial nature of chimps, particularly chimps from different groups. It follows the alpha males from both groups and discusses dominance within the chimp community. There are several sad scenes, but that is inevitable with wild animals. One thing that surprised me was the footage the filmmakers were able to get, they were able to film seemingly next to the chimps in their natural habitats. After researching this phenomena, I learned that there have been researchers in that area for many years, so the chimps are used to humans being there and don’t see them as a threat. It looked like the chimps didn’t mind the filmmakers being there at all. Below is the trailer for the series if you are interested in watching it.

Overall, I thought the series was tastefully done. It gave me an intimate look into how the chimps lived their lives and interacted with their environment. I found it inspirational and moving. There were scenes that made me feel for these chimps a wide range of emotions that I didn’t think were possible. Chimpanzees are our closest living relative sharing about 99% of our DNA with us. Watching how they interact with each other and care for and support other members of their community gave me a deeper understanding of their humanity and made me more empathetic towards their survival. I encourage you give it a watch as chimpanzees are currently endangered and footage like this might not be possible in the decades to come if we don’t learn about these intelligent beings. Let me know if you have watched it or if you plan on watching it and if you enjoyed it.