It was tough, it was heart-wrenching, but we got through it.
There was barely a dry eye across Twitter as ITV1 aired the first of its three-part series Wild Animals Reunion – where people who once took care of traditionally wild animals were reunited with them years after setting them free.
Kudia still has all the love for her adoptive mum (ITV/PA)
Bears, elephants, chimpanzees, lions, cheetahs – you name it – were all revealed to have a side more loving than we could possibly have imagined towards the humans that dedicated their lives to taking care of them, even after finding their new homes in the wild.
And, like with any seriously moving event, we dealt with it in stages.
First, we got tearful…
Wild animal reunions on ITV is melting my heart😍😭🦁🐒🐘💛
— Daisy Hurcomb (@daisy_hurcomb) July 27, 2016
Pass the tissues…😢😢 Wild Animal Reunions 🌍🐘🐒❤️ An amazing watch… Wow!
— Sally Garnett (@WarmleySally) July 27, 2016
Some of us even reached the point of complete emotional breakdown…
Watching wild animal reunions makes my heart hurt, so beautiful😩❤️
— olly (@ollysorensen) July 27, 2016
And decided it was the best programme we had ever watched…
#WildAnimalReunions one of the best things on TV in long time.nothing fake or made up truly brilliant.
— JAY MARTIN (@Jayzxr6Jay) July 27, 2016
#WildAnimalReunions on @ITV is everything I need in a television program. There's nature, there's love and there's cute baby bears 🐻
— Tessa Deakin (@TessaDeaks) July 27, 2016
Especially as it featured some personal stories from nationally renowned animal-saving legends, such as Jane Goodall and Damian Aspinall…
Nothing has changed between Damian Aspinall and Kwibi (ITV/PA)
To the point where we actually decided we cared more for the animals than anything else in the world ever…
Crying at Wild animal reunions! I love animals more than people. How can anyone harm them!! 🐒🦁🐼🐯🐻
— Lauren Jeffries (@lozzziiieee90) July 27, 2016
wild animal reunions is making me want to run away to africa and make friends with all the elephants
— imogen airson (@itsimogenbtw_) July 27, 2016
In fact, some of us even decided then and there to just drop everything for a life at one with the animals…
Watching #WildAnimalReunions & oh my goodness, I'm so emosh ❤️ the temptation to quit everything & help out at a wildlife reserve is STRONG😭
— Luisa-Christie (@luisachristie) July 27, 2016
Watching wild animal reunions and questioning why I chose to work with people not animals
— Katie (@Katieekirk) July 27, 2016
Wild Animal Reunions is just life goals all over 😭
— LindaLou (@LindaLouise6) July 27, 2016
Or at least campaign more fiercely against hunting and animal cruelty…
When you see these bonds how can anyone go hunting? I'd take a cuddle from a chimp over a hunting trophy any day #WildAnimalReunions
— Nicola R (@raffers18) July 27, 2016
Why do people hunt! Where is the fun in killing a defenceless animal! These people are brain dead! #WildAnimalReunions
— Benn (@Benn1078) July 27, 2016
#wildanimalreunions …and yet we STILL continue to abuse these beautiful creatures who have as much right to be here as we do.
— Chris Verrall (@ChrisVerrall) July 27, 2016
Which, actually, then made us feel more appreciative of the humans who actually do that.
saw short clips of this but watching the whole journey on Wild Animal Reunions is so much better 💛 @JaneGoodallInst pic.twitter.com/KpiTJX686i
— M E G A N (@meganlucytaylor) July 27, 2016
The most amazing programme. Lucky and blessed people who have worked very hard#WildAnimalReunions #AnimalsAreBetterThanPeople 🐨🐼🙈🦁🐗🐘🐊🐢🐟
— Kris (@kriswalker78) July 27, 2016
#wildanimalreunions What a fantastic programme. These amazing people have given their lives to these wonderful animals.
— Justine Williams (@jus1303_justine) July 27, 2016
Watching Wild Animal Reunions is restoring my faith in the minority of the population 😩
— Anna Mac (@AnnaMcElhenny) July 27, 2016
But there are always other sides to the story and, for some, the whole concept just didn’t sit well from the start..
Wild Animal Reunions – if you release them into their natural habitats then bloody leave them alone! Don't go back to ease your conscience!!
— Magpie (@jillianhalfp) July 27, 2016
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