For most visitors, a zoo is just a place to spend a few hours. For Samuel Hayes, it was a lifelong passion.

After thirty years as a zookeeper, he had cared for countless animals, forming bonds that few could understand. Even in his seventies, confined to a wheelchair after a back injury, he returned every Saturday to visit the enclosures. His favorite spot was the gorilla area, where he had once raised a female gorilla from infancy, nursing her back to health after a rescue from an illegal trafficking situation.

On a quiet autumn afternoon, Samuel wheeled himself near the gorilla enclosure as he always did. The air was crisp, and the zoo was nearly empty. As he hummed softly, the female gorilla emerged from the shadows. She moved slowly at first, her dark eyes locking onto him.