PBS’ “Nature” series is taking on one of the Internet’s cutest genres: animal reunions. The hourlong documentary, premiering March 30 at 8 p.m., will test the bonds of human-mammal relationships — and your tear ducts — as people reunite with the wild animals they forged bonds with years ago. One is Damian Aspinall, a millionaire entrepreneur and conservationist who travels to the African country of Gabon hoping to find Kwibi, a 10-year-old male gorilla who was born in Aspinall’s animal sanctuary in rural England but was released into the wild five years ago. When the two are finally reunited — after hours of searching for the gorilla along a riverbank — Kwibi’s recognition of his former caretaker is almost immediate as the two pals sit and congenially pass each other leaves. “I could hear his love gurgle, and I knew he would be fine with me then,” Aspinall says in the clip. “All of his mannerisms . . . [were those] of someone so happy to see his old friend.” Other reunions include: wildlife cameraman Kim Wolhuter, who goes looking for the female cheetah he spent 18 months bonding with; and Rebeca Atencia, a veterinarian who attempts to meet up with a female chimpanzee whom she nursed back to health and released in the Congo two years ago. The film also profiles Edwin Lusichi — who spent 16 years rehabilitating orphaned elephants in Nairobi, Kenya — reuniting with two of his favorites as they are being reintroduced into the wild. Just try to watch the clip of the elephant nursery at bedtime, where the keepers tuck the baby pachyderms under blankets and sleep with them side-by-side, and not emit and audible “Awww.” Photo: PBS/”Nature”
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