"Hi, my name is SpongeBob the Squirrel Monkey. I used to live in the Zoo at Chessington World of Adventures and you may have heard about me as I am the little fella who was stolen from the Zoo on the 17 July. Someone broke in and took me away from my friends and my home - can you believe it?
Although they managed to find me again and I came back to Chessington, I have now had to move to another Zoo as the other monkeys didn't want me back with them! It's been a bit of an adventure, so I thought I'd tell you about it all in my SpongeBlog. Check back often to learn about all my experiences and how I am settling in in Battersea Park Zoo."
My Blog
26 March 2007
Wow, time flies when you’re a celebrity monkey! Can’t believe it is March already. It’s been an exciting few weeks, what with the guy who stole me going to court and everything. I understand I featured in the papers again, which is kinda cool. I was missing the attention, frankly!
Guess you’re all interested in hearing how I am getting on here in Battersea. Well, I wish I had good news, but I am afraid the last few months have been a bit rough again. I am not sure what I am doing wrong, but the ladies just don’t like me much!
I was settling in nicely with Plum, Apricot, Damson and little Quince (do you think they have a theme going with the names?), and I was definitely the king of the castle, getting ready for the breeding season to begin. Then, for some reason, they decided to introduce another female into our group, and it all went wrong. Apple, who is about seven years old, was so hostile and mean, and she managed to turn all the other girls against me! They were really horrible, I tell you. They chased me and bullied me and once again I had to hide indoors.
They removed Apple and Plum after 24 hours, but it didn’t help. The damage was done, and I got really depressed. I didn’t know what to do, and even started chewing my own tail, which meant I had to have an operation to remove the tip of it. When it rains, it pours, I say.
Anyway, things have settled down a bit now. They have separated me from the girls completely and I am living in an enclosure with Quince. He’s cool enough, but I do miss having some girls around me. I was getting really geared up for the breeding season and then this happens! My keeper Catherine has promised that they will start re-introducing me to the girls when I get a bit stronger – perhaps in a few months time - so watch this space.
In the midst of all this, it was great news that the guy who stole me was found guilty in court. This has all been so dramatic, but it makes me happy to think that at least he isn’t getting away with it. Fingers crossed for the sentencing this week!
19 December 2006
Merry Christmas from a cheeky monkey!
It’s been a long while since you have heard from me – and that’s because I have really been chilling out here at Battersea. I can truly say now that I am a happy little monkey! Things have calmed down a bit for me – thankfully! I have even gained some weight and have been told it suits me. I am a bit worried about my belly, but my keepers say I could actually do with adding even more weight – hopefully I won’t end up a chubby monkey!
As I mentioned last time I am living with my girlfriend Plum and her niece Apricot, and although we have had our moments we are now getting on famously. They made the inside area so cosy I didn’t really enjoy going outside much at the beginning, but now we have really settled into a routine and I spend a lot of time outside with the girls. They have to stay away from my hammock, though. It’s mine, and only mine!
And you know what - they have introduced a new member to our group, a little boy called Quince. He is only a baby, so we get on quite well. I don’t think he’ll be much of competition for me – not for a few years anyway.
I can’t wait for Christmas! They have put up sparkly lights and play wonderful music, and everyone is in such a great mood. I have heard rumours that I might even get my own stocking on Christmas day, so I will update you all in the new year on what goodies Santa brought.
I wish you all a very merry Christmas and Happy New Year, and thank you for being so interested in how I am getting on. It really means a lot to me.
9 October 2006 - Greetings from Battersea!
Things in Battersea are really going well for me. I continue to get a lot of attention – which of course I love - and since I last updated you I have been on the radio and in the papers again. Does it ever end?
I have a lot of visitors here and from what I understand they have come just to see little me! They must have read about me in the paper. I am quite popular and have even been adopted as they run an adoption scheme here! There’s a little boy in particular – he comes every week as he has a season ticket, and he loves to just hang out with me. He’s a lot of fun.
Last time I told you about my new girlfriend Plum. Well, now her nieces Apricot and Damson have joined us, and we are getting along famously. Most of the time, anyway! I definitely have the run of the inside enclosure, but I haven’t conquered the outside bit yet. Now that there are three of them they sometimes gang up on me so that I have to stay inside for the day. I am working on it, though and will show them who’s boss soon!
Apricot and Damson are quite young – only about 1 ½, so they seem to listen to Plum a lot as she is older and cleverer. I understand there are plans for the others to join us soon, so I look forward to that.
I am never lonely here – even when I am stuck inside on my own. For company they have given me my own little cuddly toy to play with. He’s a monkey, too and I love carrying him around. And I have a bell I can ring when I need something – although I haven’t really figured out how it works yet.
14 September 2006
Hello everybody – sorry I haven’t been able to update you on how I am getting on for a while, but I have been spending time settling in at Battersea. It’s a great place and I am loving it!
I am being looked after by four great new keepers here at Battersea called Catherine, Jason, Anita and Alice. They are lovely and take very good care of me – although Catherine calls me a cheeky monkey, which I am not entirely sure about. What does she mean, cheeky?
My new enclosure is not a walk through one like at Chessington, but it is really cool. It’s got two separate sections, which are joined together by a bridge. I am living on one side, and my new friends – six girls and a little one-year-old boy called Quince – live on the other side.
Well not any more, because I have a new friend! The plan is to slowly introduce me to the new group to ensure they like me. So far I have made one very special friend. Her name is Plum, she is 7 years old (I’ve always liked older women!) and she is now living with me on my side. It is great to have someone to hang out with – and she is cute, too!
Another girl called Jackie keeps popping in and out, but she isn’t all that friendly. I definitely prefer Plum, but it could be that Jackie is just playing hard to get… We’ll see.
My favourite bit in my enclosure is my new hammock! They have put up this really cool hammock, and I LOVE just hanging out, swinging on the ropes and just chilling. It’s really fun. Yesterday a photographer came to see me – I am a famous monkey, after all. I tried to look all forlorn and lonely, as I gathered that’s what he wanted. I was just playing up, though, as I am really quite happy here. Especially now that Plum has joined me.
29 August 2006
What a day! I have now officially left Chessington World of Adventures for my new home in Battersea Park Zoo – I do get about, don’t I? It is weird to think I am not going to be at Chessington any more, but here’s to a new and exciting adventure.
The trip wasn’t too bad. My transport arrived early this morning and I was once again on the move as we went the short trip to South London.
It’ll be a few days until I get to join the other monkeys - but I had a peek at them as I arrived and I am mighty impressed! The ladies are cute! I can’t wait to explore my new home and meet them face-to-face.
I don’t have much else to tell you right now, but I promise to keep you posted on how I am getting on in Battersea.
Bye!
24 August 2006 - Battersea Bob?
It is official – I am leaving Chessington World of Adventures! As I am not able to integrate with the group here in the Zoo, my keepers have made the really sad decision to move me to the Zoo in Battersea Park this Friday or Saturday.
Can you believe it? My keeper Sonia told me the news yesterday. It’s not all bad, really. You see - I am going to be integrated with at least five one-year old ladies, so I am kind of looking forward to it. I’ll be the big man again!Battersea Zoo is cool. I have heard it is in a big park, which I think is really nice. The best thing is that it is not so far away from Chessington, so my keepers can come and visit me often and see how I get on with all my new lady friends. I am at that age now that I am thinking of starting a family. I am a bit sad it won’t be at Chessington, though as I had my eye on a couple of the ladies, and now I have to turn on the charm and start again…
The best news I had this week is that the nice policemen have arrested the man they think stole me, so hopefully he will get what he deserves. I really do have to say I think it was very inconsiderate of him to cause all this malarkey – people should learn to respect us animals and understand that actions have consequences. Just look at what has happened to me?
I know the other monkeys haven’t been that nice to me, but I am going to miss them. And I am going to miss my keepers – especially Maria, Sonia and Iona – actually, all of them!
Find out how Bob gets on with the big move next week…
15 August 2006
I have been moved again! I now live in my own little enclosure in the back area of the zoo - away from the other monkeys. It has not been an easy time. The other monkeys just don’t want me back, and my keepers have made the decision to completely separate me from the group.
Bob is still stressed after his
ordeal and is no longer with
the group.
So what is going to happen to me? I am basically up for adoption! I am being moved to another Zoo where I can be integrated with another group of monkeys. I am a bit scared in case they don’t like me – but I guess it can’t be worse than what it has been here since I came back!
So now I am just waiting for the right people to come around to see me – and then I will be off. I will let you know how I get on, but I hope my keepers tell them all about me so that it won’t be such a scary place. Like the fact that I like vegetables – green beans being a particular favourite! And that I really enjoy helping out when they clean, especially when they use sponges…
And you know what? Since I am off they have brought in another male to take my place in the group here at Chessington! I am gutted at being replaced so soon, but ever since I came back the ladies really don’t want me there, so my keepers explained that they had to bring in another male to so that the group can breed. His name is Van Gogh because he only has one ear! What kind of name is that – SpongeBob is much better.
3 August 2006
What a week! It is now two weeks since I came back to Chessington and it hasn’t been all fun I am afraid.
You see, the other monkeys have not been very nice to me! In fact, I was bullied. Yeah, I admit it. The girls all bullied me. It became so bad in the end that my keepers decided to separate me from the group, and they have built me a very nice house inside the enclosure. I can still see everyone, but they can’t get to me. I now have an inside and outside area where I can hang out until things get back to normal.
A couple of the girls are ok, actually. Squeak and Monkhead come and visit me, and I do think that is very nice. I am not sure about the others, though!
Unfortunately during the worst bullying, one of the girls bit me on the foot. It’s really painful and sore, and the vet had to come especially to see me. He had a look and now I am on some medicine to see if it gets any better. He said I might have to have a small operation, and I am not happy about that. Let’s hope the medicine works, I say!
Keeper Maria Beddoc and SpongeBob search
for some dinner!
The best thing about this week was when my keeper, Maria was clearing out my new house. She was mopping it up with a sponge, and I LOVE sponges… Well, you wouldn’t really expect anything else from someone called SpongeBob! I just love jumping after the sponge and it squirts water everywhere. It makes Maria’s job a bit harder, but I think she loves it, really.
27 July 2006
It's all go go go when you are a celebrity monkey like me. I have had my picture taken lots of times since I came back to the Zoo and so many people have come to visit me - although they are not allowed in to the walk through just yet as I need a little time to settle back in.
Although it is great to be back I am not really that happy with the welcome I have had from the girls in my group. I think I must smell or something, cause they keep running after me and biting me. Perhaps they think I am too human now since I was away for three whole days. Or they might just be jealous of all the attention I am getting. I hope they become a bit nicer to me soon, though, as I really like some of the girls and thought I was in with a chance before I was taken away.
Monday I had a nice day! Three of the local policemen here in Chessington came to visit me, and they had brought a fruit basket and a get well card! It was full of lovely cherries, melon, pineapple and bananas. I have been feasting on it all week and if the girls are a bit nicer to me in the next couple of days I might share some with them!
