As you may be aware, Willy B and Honey B both love watching videos and checking out their photos on our phones. They also quite enjoy watching movies, more so than any of the other chimpanzees. Though we don’t play movies all the time, they are one more form of enrichment we offer the chimpanzees that they can choose to engage with or not. With Willy B and Honey B, as soon as the TV gets wheeled in they both get really excited! They seem to enjoy nature documentaries in particular, and will both sit in front of the TV, RIVETED, especially Willy B. (Honey is a busy woman and perhaps cannot contain her zooms quite as long as he does 🙂 ).
But we recently discovered the ultimate movie in Willy B’s opinion. He cannot get enough of it! I walked in Phase 1 after the chimps had lunch yesterday to find Willy sprawled out on the bench, glued to the TV, just like any of us might do on our couch. And his favorite movie??
Ice Age!
We have no idea what it is about this movie, but he LOVES it. It took me ages to get it set up and he somehow patiently waited for what must have felt like an eternity, never once losing interest. Some time later, one of us accidentally tripped the cord walking past and unplugged it and Willy B blew raspberries to let us know. Then one of us accidentally walked in front of the TV and Honey B waved her arms, seemingly suggesting, “Get out of the way!”
Willy B!!
But also just like most of us, I eventually caught him napping in front of the TV:
In other news, we caught Jamie and Foxie in a good ol’ game of head-butting (??). They were laughing so hard and then, these faces!!
And we recently had a kind supporter bring the gift of fresh mangoes for the chimpanzees! Annie is allergic to mangoes, so we cannot give them to the seven, but what a wonderful surprise for the three! Just to be on the safe side and prevent anything making it’s way to Annie, we don’t buy mangoes so we hadn’t yet offered them to Mave, Willy B and Honey B and we weren’t sure how they’d respond (they can be known to be a little particular with their food choices). Well, they knew exactly what they were and were so excited! Here’s Honey B enjoying hers at dinner tonight. And let me say, it’s incredible to watch them eat these! Literally, within seconds it’s completely gone and they spit out the pit that ends up looking like a Pringles potato chip. Honey B might suggest we all go try that.
Oh poor Annie and the 7! I adore mangoes and can’t imagine never having any. So glad the three had a chance to devour some.
I’m guessing Katelyn took these beautiful photos capturing the chimps looking blissfully content. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Patti, that’s kind of you, thanks. Hope you and yours are doing well, our chimp neighbors! 🙂
Willy B.!! Geez I adore this fellow. I have to ask if he likes other animated movies or is it just a passion for “Ice Age” only? Due to those clumsy cord-trippers and screen-blockers, it appears you need to include a Media Room with your new Phase 2 construction. Or, on the wall across from the Three you need to add an articulating wall mount flat screen TV for Willy B’s personal viewing. Oh, and you’ll need a popcorn popper too! Winter is coming. Best season for snugging in for an afternoon matinée. Thanks Katelyn, I just loved this story. And the mango story too. I bet the Californians were thinking to themselves “It’s about time these Washingtonians discovered mangos!”. You can actually see the joy in Honey B’s eyes — yummy!!
Hi Kathleen! He does like other animated movies we’ve shown so far, but none seem to hold a candle (or his attention) to quite like Ice Age. Maybe he envisions himself a saber-toothed chimpanzee with his beloved leopard print blanket… 😉 He’s most definitely a swoon-worthy, endearing fella. And I wondered the same about their mango thoughts, haha. Wonderful Mave just sticks the entire mango in her mouth and within seconds spits out a thin, cleaned pit! They’ve clearly had practice. 🙂
This whole lovely post and equally lovely photographs makes my heart so happy! Thank you.
My favorite movie of this century (thus far) is the claymation extravaganza, “Wallace and Gromit: the Curse of the Were-rabbit”. Perhaps Willy B and Honey B would enjoy that, assuming that the prominent teeth of Wallace and several of the other claymated human characters isn’t interpreted by them as a fear grimace or such.
Oh, and thank you for capturing photographic evidence of the elusive playface of Jamie.
As far as movies go, have you tried “Harry and the Hendersons”?
Awww! Willy B is so handsome and cute! Ice Age is a great movie! Do they like movies with animals as the main characters more than humans?
Great pick Willy B! Oh how I look forward to reading the chimps going on’s, it’s my special treasure.