Based on the true life exploits of Shirley McGreal, as she single-handedly took down America's most notorious primate smuggler.
Six nearly dead baby orangutans were discovered being smuggled through the Bangkok airport. Knowing how little the authorities do when it comes to this sort of smuggling, Shirley McGreal repeatedly risked her life and organization (International Primate Protection League) to bring down the perpetrator.
Shirley's investigation ranged from navigating the Indonesian gangsters in the dangerous Far East to acquiring and saving some of the suffering orangutans. Once she discovered that the culprit was one Matthew Block, the most dangerous of American primate smugglers - her fight for justice became immeasurably more dangerous. When he and his Cuban mob learned she was behind the push to get him arrested - he attacked her with lawsuits that would cost Shirley her organization, and robbery.
She enlisted Fish & Wildlife for law enforcement support, but they were ill-equipped and too inexperienced to deal with international smugglers. Their work against Block included a plea bargain being struck with Block. It became almost surreal as the government was duped into letting Block off, for dressing one of their agents in a gorilla suit and selling him to Mexican traffickers.
Shirley enlisted her friend and great supporter, Prince Phillip - and gained ground. But it was only once she enlisted Block's colorful cohort Kurt Schafer, better known as "The Birdman of Bangkok," that things changed. Shirley helped Kurt see the suffering and pain they were causing, and he ultimately joined her in not only caging Block - but changing the laws which made this abuse possible.
