When he was still a child, he got stuck in a tree, and a female gorilla came to the rescue. The gorilla helped him down, carrying him on her back, wiped away his tears, and stayed by his side the entire day. Now, this man helps wild animals and has saved hundreds of gorillas.
From a young age, Damian was surrounded by exotic creatures thanks to his father, John Aspinall, a legendary zookeeper. Imagine growing up in an environment where gorillas are not zoo animals but almost family members!
I remember a touching story he shared: one day, he found himself stuck in a tree, and it was a female gorilla who came to his rescue. She carried him on her back, wiped his tears, and gave him an entire day of comfort. A true lesson in animal compassion.
When John Aspinall passed away in 2000, Damian inherited struggling wildlife parks, losing £4 million a year. Rather than being discouraged, he delved into the casino industry, amassing millions which he then invested in creating wildlife sanctuaries.
His goal? To fulfill his father’s dream by bringing gorillas back to their natural habitat.
In 2012, Damian embarked on an adventure that would captivate the world. He returned to Africa to find Kwibi, a gorilla he had released five years earlier.
You might wonder what it feels like to reunite with a former furry companion after such a long separation? Well, it was a magical, almost unreal moment.
Imagine the scene: Damian, after five years apart, meets Kwibi. The two come face to face in the jungle, and then, the unexpected happens. Kwibi recognizes Damian immediately!
The hugs, the cries of joy, the reunion between man and gorilla are so moving that it feels like watching a film of pure emotion.