Honey B is a complex chimpanzee. She is intelligent, sensitive, opinionated, over-the-top, stubborn, inquisitive, picky with food, and picky with humans. Honey B seems to prefer male caregivers, which is unfortunate for her, as this is a female dominated field (shoutout J.B. and Chad).
When I first started at CSNW, Honey B would often haze me when I interacted with her. She would invite me to groom with her and then use that as an opportunity to scream in my face. During meals, she would often spit her juice back on to my face unexpectedly. While this sounds intense, it’s just a normal part of becoming a chimpanzee caregiver. Some captive chimpanzees, I should rephrase and say a lot of captive chimpanzees, choose to spit and startle their caregivers because they can, it’s something they can control.
Almost 4 years later, Honey B still invites me over to scream in my face and/or spits at me at meals. One day, a few months ago, she regurgitated everything in her stomach on my head, which led to my first shower at work. While I truly never know what I’m going to get with her, it makes calm, positive moments that much more rewarding. Honey B will sprinkle in some quality grooming and play sessions from time to time, making me wonder if our relationship has miraculously turned a corner. For example, the other day after our staff meeting, I went back to say hello to the chimps in my out-of-work clothes, which included a baseball hat. Honey B seemed to appreciate my hat, which made her initiate a long game of chase with me, going back and forth from her playroom to the greenhouse.
Honey B’s and my relationship ebbs and flows, but that’s okay! I would mess with my caregivers if I were her, too.
Honey B:
Bonus photo of George:
