Behavioral researcher Linda Koebner was a 23 year-old graduate students back in 1974, when she helped released lab chimpanzees acclimate to life in the wild. She had no idea at the time that this experience would change her life forever.

Two of the chimpanzees that were being released from labs back into the wild were Doll and Swing. Linda was given the task of helping these chimps as well as a third named Sparky acclimate to life in the wild. However, this was no easy task, as the chimps had never known anything except for the laboratories they were raised in.

“They were terrified,” Linda recalled years later. “Whether it was afraid to step on the grass, they hadn’t been on anything except hard bars for years; or just the feel of the wind or the sun; they just huddled in the doorways and wouldn’t come out.”

Thanks to Linda’s efforts, Doll, Swing, and Sparky were able to finally be free in the wild, where they belonged! After caring for them every day for four long years, Linda said a tearful goodbye to them and left.

Eighteen years later, while taking part in Argos Films’ documentary Wisdom of the Wild, Linda was reunited with Doll and Swing! An older Linda can be seen approaching the chimps from across a pond, and they don’t seem to recognize her at first.

Swing is the first to come up to her and extend his arm to her, and he is followed by Doll. Suddenly, the two chimpanzees recognize Linda, and they three share their first hug in nearly twenty years!

“These Chimpanzees have taught me so much about resilience,” Linda said. “(They’ve) gone through so much tremendous adversity and yet they’re forgiving and they’re whole again.”

Since this documentary was filmed, Linda has founded Chimp Haven, which is a sanctuary devoted to taking care of “surplus” chimpanzees discarded from the research and entertainment industries. Over 300 chimps call Chimp Haven home today!

Watch the heartwarming reunion in the video below, and SHARE this story so your friends and family can see this as well!