Raised Human - Season 1

In 1967, Hester and Jerry Mundis were living in a small apartment on the upper west side of Manhattan, with their 8-year old son Shep and Ahab, the family dog. Both Hester and Jerry were busy working parents. The last thing they needed was anything else on their plate. But when they stumbled upon an orphaned baby chimpanzee in a run-down exotic pet store, it was love at first touch. They named him Boris and brought him home.

For 2 years, this West African chimpanzee was a much-loved member of the family; a son to Hester and Jerry, a brother to Shep, and a playmate to Ahab. Raising a chimp could be chaotic. But the challenges of life with Boris were outweighed by the love and joy he brought to the family.

That is, until Boris grew so strong, and his natural instincts so uncontrollable that it meant he could stay no longer. Hester and Jerry scoured the world for a new home for Boris, somewhere nurturing, that wouldn't sell him on to a science lab or circus.

Now almost 50 years on, Hester, Jerry and Shep tell their story of raising Boris in New York City, with great fondness. Though the lessons learned were tough, and the pain of losing Boris was devastating, they don't regret a minute of their adventure with him. And on visiting Boris, still alive and well in Chester, UK, Hester and Shep discover whether he still remembers them.

The true story of animal trainer Ralph Helfer who raised a lion, Zamba, in his Californian home, who became his best friend, and playmate, to Ralph's toddler daughter.

When a three month-old African lion cub, rescued from starvation in Africa in 1952 was handed over to Californian Ralph Helfer a beautiful relationship developed. Over the next 18 years, Ralph trained the lion, Zamba through affection, not fear. This gentle giant, who lived not in a cage but in Ralph's own home, became a soul mate to Ralph, a 500lb companion to his little daughter, Tana, and a movie star. Nearly fifty years after Zamba's death, Ralph continues to cherish his lion's memory, and their legacy lives on in the way animals are trained for the movies today.

True story of a wild dolphin called JoJo who formed a surprising and long lasting relationship with swimmer and free diver, Dean Bernal.

In 1986 Californian Dean Bernal settled in the Turks and Caicos Islands, where he came across a wild bottlenose dolphin known to locals as JoJo. JoJo found the perfect swim mate in swimmer and free diver, Dean. They formed an incredible bond, even saving each other from shark attacks.

But with the island's popularity growing, JoJo was in constant danger from motorboats and tourists. Dean campaigned tirelessly to protect JoJo helping in JoJo being declared a National Treasure. Today Dean campaigns for marine mammals worldwide, but now he's back for the first time in a year to see his old friend.