Lucy the Human Chimp is a documentary film that tells the incredible story of a chimpanzee named Lucy, who was raised as a human by Maurice and Jane Temerlin in the 1960s. The Temerlins bought Lucy from a zoo when she was just a few weeks old and raised her as part of their family, dressing her in clothes, playing board games with her, and teaching her sign language.
As Lucy grew older, the couple began to realize that they could no longer provide her with the care and companionship she needed, and they decided to donate her to a research lab at the University of Oklahoma. There, she was used for language experiments and lived in a cage for several years, until she was ultimately deemed too dangerous and sent to the Institute for Primate Studies in Georgia.
It was there that she met Janis Carter, a young animal behaviorist who became determined to give Lucy a new life in the wild. Despite the fact that Lucy had spent most of her life in captivity and had little understanding of the world outside her cage, Carter spent months working with her, teaching her survival skills and helping her to adjust to life in a chimpanzee group.
The film chronicles Lucy's journey from a confused and isolated captive to a relatively content and engaged member of a chimpanzee community. It also explores the ethical implications of raising a wild animal as a human, and the consequences of using chimpanzees for research and entertainment.
Lucy the Human Chimp is a fascinating and emotional documentary that sheds light on the complex relationship between humans and animals, as well as the devastating impact of captivity on wild creatures.