If you know Willy B, you know that he is big on his “screen time.” He loves his “stories” (current favorites are: Wild Chimpanzees with Jane Goodall, Orangutan Diaries, Orangutan Eden, Ice Age, and Terminal (while I find this one curious from a human attempting to see things from a chimpanzee’s perspective, I have no explanation for this one, but it doesn’t matter because it’s his choice). He is also a big fan of our iPhones and LOVES to see himself, take “selfies” and look at photos and videos of other animals, particularly chimpanzees, whenever he can. He knows we all carry iPhones and knows which pocket we carry them in and will gesture while looking at my pocket and blow raspberries to request seeing it. And as you’ve probably read a zillion times, it’s such a challenge to get photos of him, Honey B, or Mave because the second Willy B sees the camera, he’s front and center!
While we don’t spend an extended amount of time doing this with him, we do try to oblige him when he requests it. He was clearly was very familiar with phones and cameras when he arrived to the sanctuary and greatly enjoys it, so we treat it as any other form of enrichment, offering it when he asks and including it along with a myriad of other enrichment items and/or activities on offer to the chimpanzees to engage with (or not) as they choose. Anything with a screen is probably Willy B’s equivalent of Jamie’s boots or Foxie’s dolls, or Burrito’s endless games of chase with caregiver, Chad. 😉
Whether you spend all your time on social media or avoid it like the plague, you may (or may not) be familiar with filter options for taking selfies. You’ve probably seen them, the ones that add animation to the screen (and your face) with things like dog ears and whiskers, sparkly crowns, falling glitter, floating hearts, the list is endless really. Well, I thought #WillyB might like to try these out. Needless to say, social media influencer that he is, he did:
A couple of random things seen while cleaning the greenhouse when happening to look up above our heads that made us smile (and to remind you to look up and around yourselves because you never know when something beautiful or magical or just plain silly might lift your spirits):
And a bonus of this beautiful, beloved, woman, Jody, who makes my heart swell with how special she is and how much I love her. Right before I took this she held out her fingers and wiggled them in greeting to me, then let out the biggest sigh of contentment, ensconced as she was in her plush giant wolf blanket nest:
What a gift you received! Jodi wiggling her fingers in greeting. That would make my heart swell too. You are blessed and I am jealous! I wish I could see her every day.
I’m relatively new to the CSNW fan club so I’m still learning about each chimp. I liked and appreciate today’s insight into Willy B. Fun to hear what interests him. I know a bit about Burrito and Foxie and Jamie and more recently Negra, so thank you for broadening my “getting to know“ WillyB.
Love you!
Willy is amazing!! ?
What a fun post! I love Willy B. all glittery, and the pic of Jody-be still, my heart!
I love her dearly also.
I’ve mentioned this before; especially when I’m able to see the parents and then their offspring, just like human primates they tend to get their mom or dads teeth. Which brings me to my next questions, is Willy B missing top teeth and can you please when given the chance post more pics of Willy B admiring his gorgeous smile in the mirror? Thank you
Hi Stevie, yes, Willy B is missing a front tooth. And we will do our best. 🙂
Questions: I think I heard on one of the YouTube videos that Honey B is Missy’s daughter. Is that correct? And do they know that? Assuming they were separated when Honey B was young, do they recognize each other? And… Are any of the others related? And, if so, do they know it?
And (LOL, this is my last”and”) When the new six arrive, are any of them related to anybody else?
Thanks! Love you!
They know that Missy is Honey B’s mother, but they didn’t recognize each other. They were able to locate a few of the other ladies’ children in other sanctuaries.
Hi Paulette,
Thanks for your questions. Yes! Honey B is Missy’s daughter. They were separated within hours of Honey B’s birth so while we certainly don’t know everything there is to know, it’s unlikely they recognize one another and during their brief time together during introductions with the three and the seven, there was no indication otherwise. No one else of the current ten are related, but all those years ago when the chimpanzees were horrifically used as “breeders” in the labs, many of the same names pop up in their histories. For example, Burrito shares the same father (as do many, many chimpanzees) with one of Jody’s sons, one of Negra’s sons, and one of Foxie’s half brothers.
And the new six! While none of them are related to any of the ten that we are aware of so far, Cy and Lucky are siblings!
Just when I thought Willy B couldn’t be more dazzling you #BedazzleWillyB. Mr. Upside-down Blue Peg is pretty funny. And Jody, peaceful looking Jody is always a joy to see. Oh to get a wiggly fingers hello from her, what a lucky life you live!
I thought smily blue peg overhead also would be a great sign in the morning! And a finger waggle from JoJo would make my century!
If Willy was a human, he would be John Wayne or Steve McQueen for sure….what a ham he is! And a wonderful photo of Jody. It must be one of the most heartwarming situations to hear her contentment and see how comfortable and relaxed she is after her awful previous life. I’m sure the others are the same….you all do a fantastic job to ensure this happens. Thank you for sharing.
When I see Willy B, I always think about Johnny Carson
i see an ever-so-fleeting resemblance between Willy and my hero, Keith Richards (particularly with their ears).
LOL
I so enjoyed all the info. about Willy B. I sponsor him every year and thoroughly enjoy seeing his cute
face and seeing him get involved in “projects” so to speak. I love that they have their own personalities
like us humans. They know their likes and dis-likes and have ways to get the message to the human population. Thanks again.
Everything I learn about these beautiful chimps makes me fall more in love with them. They are so wonderful.
Oh, Jody and Willy…I just love them (and their housemates and next door Bovine neighbors) even more with each passing day. Don’t be surprised, Katelyn, if you ever find out that Jody has decided to sponsor you as her Human Pal.
Or, to paraphrase the lyrics of “What a Wonderful World” in regard to Jody and Katelyn’s greeting to each other:
“I see primates wiggling fingers,
saying ‘How do you do?’
They’re really saying,
‘I love you.'”
I see the faces of Jody and Willy and their friends and I say to myself, “What a wonderful world”…
I love that!
Wonderful post, thank you! And imagine having beautiful Jody wiggle her fingers at you. That would be a great day. 🙂