I have to confess, I chose Willy B as my subject for this “Love for…” series on a day that he was being particularly difficult to love. He had woken the other chimps up four times the previous night with his incessant banging and antagonizing, and thanks to the magic of closed circuit camera technology, I’d also had the pleasure of lying awake and listening to his late night performances. The lack of sleep initially made it hard for me to muster up much sympathy for the guy. But isn’t that the perfect time to remind myself—and you—what makes him so deserving of our love?
Willy B was born on November 30th, 1990, at the Laboratory for Experimental Medicine and Surgery in Primates (LEMSIP) in New York. According to his records, his father was Stu. His mother is known to us only by the number that would have been tattooed across her chest: 526. The “B” in Willy B’s name served as a reminder that although he was born at LEMSIP, one or both of his parents belonged to the Buckshire Corporation, making Willy B their property, too. Like his companions, Willy spent much of his childhood in a cage suspended off the floor.
When LEMSIP ended its chimpanzee program in 1996, Willy B was transferred with over 30 other chimpanzees to the Wildlife Waystation in California. He would remain there until 2019, when it too began to close down.
We selected Willy B and his companions, Honey B and Mave, to be the first of the Waystation chimpanzees to move to CSNW due to their small social group and relative isolation at the facility. Willy was our main road trip companion for the 1,000-mile journey, as his transport cage occupied the space just behind the driver’s seat. And I am still feeling the adrenaline from the time he went from sound asleep to trying to topple the van over with his intense cage-shaking on a busy section of I-5 in Central California, all in the blink of an eye.
Little did I know it then, but that incident would be a metaphor for life with Willy. I’ve written about his challenges before so I won’t belabor the point here, other than to say that he has thus far had a hard time remaining in good standing in social groups with anyone other than his two original companions, who have a tolerance for his shenanigans worthy of a Nobel Peace Prize. But knowing how he was raised, we shouldn’t wonder why he struggles with being social. The question is, why don’t they all?
And when you consider how far he has come, Willy’s story is less a tragedy and more a story of hope. Watching him overcome his fear of the outdoors was one of the most inspiring things I’ve been privileged to witness.
And despite the two-year integration of Willy’s group and Cy’s group ultimately ending in failure due to Willy’s chronic self-sabotaging behavior, he managed to make many new friends who often brought out the best in him. He will certainly have more opportunities for additional companionship in the future.
Even when he’s at his most chaotic, you can’t help but love Willy for his endearing quirks. Like the way he plays chase with his caregivers—no eye contact allowed! Or his childlike amusement with Slinkies and bouncy balls. Or his incessant requests to watch videos on our phones, specifically videos of the cute girls (like Jamie) next door. Or the way he is compelled to maximize the crunching sounds when he eats lettuce and celery by chomping down with his molars with his mouth wide open.
It’s true, Willy B can be a but much sometimes. There are times when he is even too much for himself, and he has to find a quiet, secluded place to reset.
I talk a lot about how much I admire Cy and Rayne, and they deserve every ounce of our admiration. But do all of our heroes have to be so noble? What about the guy that was born with the deck stacked against him and gets just a little bit better each day? What about the guy who has to struggle to be good? Isn’t that struggle itself something to be admired? True or not, this is what I will be telling myself when Willy B wakes us up again tonight.
Because I love Willy B, despite who he is and—even more so—because of who he is. We’re so grateful for his Pals who feel the same way, and we hope you will consider sponsoring him, too.
Thanks, JB, for that wonderful write up on Willy B. It’s always good to remind of of the “homes” they have left behind.
A perfect insight into the naughty/nice boy, Willy B. Who knows why his previous life affected him more than the others….maybe he was far more psychologically frail? It’s always amazed me that all the others weren’t so damaged by their awful experiences. I occasionally look back at the photos of when they first arrived…..unrecognisable now, but that’s what we see on the outside. Just like you, although he is frustrating at times, he’s also shown courage and his better side too so he’s well worth the extra effort to love him too.
The introduction of the first Californian group seems so long ago but I fell in love with all of them from the get go. Willy B is so handsome and I believed the ladies in Jaime’s group would fall in love immediately too plus I hoped Burrito would have a male bud. Thanks for not giving up on him because I certainly haven’t. Here’s hoping time and continued stability will help him understand that no human will hurt him anymore.
Willy B is a guy I just can’t help but root for! For him, progress might mean getting to a point the others reached long ago, but that doesn’t make the progress he has made any less impressive! Inside, I think he’s still just an insecure kid who covers it all up with a lot of bluster. He’s a handsome bad boy with a sensitive soul under it all.
Willy B reminds me of some humans I know (and love). Thank you for loving and caring for him even when it’s hard.
That his mother had a number tattooed on her chest just broke me. I don’t understand why humans treat any animal, innocent, trusting, sensitive, to such abuse. And I cheered for him again when I rewatched the video of him braving the grass. I remember watching him in those explorations, and so admire(d) his bravery. Thank you, CSNW, for the love and freedom you’ve offered these close relatives.
Having a tattoo number on her chest speaks volumes about the kind of people who did it. And I had always wondered what the B was for…… he was ‘owned ‘ by a corporation!! Unbelievable.!! I suppose Honey B was the same then?
It must be hard not to resent his taking an afternoon siesta when you can’t, considering you slept the same number of hours.
JB, have you given up on the idea of uniting the Californians into one group?
Yes. We haven’t given up on regrouping entirely but after the intro and the reintro attempts with the Californians, it’s safe to say that thse groups are better off apart. Not because of extreme aggression or injuries but because of the constant instability.
Oh, JB, I’m so sorry to hear that, for Mave and Honey B :pensive:
I think if Willy were a human, he would be diagnosed with ADHD.
That is my thought too, ADHD, or on the spectrum. Willie B sounds just like my nephew .
It makes me cry to see Willy B in those horrible cages and to think that he taken away from his mother so
young. I can completely understand why Willy B is the way he is. I am so thankful that he found your sanctuary and that you all love Willy B even though he can be difficult. The video of his first time outside is so moving and heart warming. Thank god that at some point in his life he can feel freedom and be cared for the way he deserves. Thank you so much Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest for all that you do for these incredible individuals. I have really enjoyed these blogs on the individual chimps. I have learned many new things about each of them. You can tell they were written with love. I wish I had the money to give so much more so that they can have the best life possible.
That photograph of young Willy is heartbreaking and egregious. It shames me to the core of my being.
Even though Willy resides in a mountainside sanctuary where he can climb structures and take in the view of the mountains, and where he receives good nutrition and medical care by human primates who treat him with intelligent compassion, the damage to his psyche has been done. I can hope that Willy will have many years of good physical and mental health to heal from the deprivations inflicted upon him for the crime of being the wrong species trapped in the Anthroposphere.
Willy B is my Pal. I fell for him instantly. He is so handsome and I am drawn to him because of his tender emotional side —anxieties, frustrations, and countless vulnerabilities included. Watching Willy B venture out of the chute alone, day after day, collecting the goodies scattered along the boardwalk to encourage him to go one step further was so exciting to see. Seriously, that took guts! I am so very proud of him. If only a bribe of a juicy grape could solve his emotional struggles.
It broke my heart to read that his mother had no name and was know as a number. I hate to imagine the lack of compassion she received throughout her tormented life. His father, Stu, had an insufferable existence until he was finally saved by Save The Chimps. They saw him for who he was and gave him one glorious year. I never knew that the “B” in Willy B stood for “Buckshire Corporation owns you”. (I’m guessing, same rule applies to Honey “B”.) So much greedy cruelty involved in a single life!
I always appreciate your openness and your honesty when it comes to talking about Willy B and Jamie. It helps a great deal in understanding their struggles. Your “Intelligent Life” post is one of my all time favorites! I have saved it and still I found it moving to read it again today. Thank you so much for everything you have done for Willy B. I will never give up rooting for him. And please thank Mave and Honey B too! And I hope someday Willy can have a play date with his old friend Cy.
Honey B, and Missy B and, IIRC, Jody B