When animals join the sanctuary together, caregivers generally decide on a name theme. Recent macaque rescues Hopper and Max were named for characters on the Netflix sci-fi drama Stranger Things; kangaroos Ross, Rachel and Joey are as bonded as the crew from the sitcom hit Friends; lemurs Sprout and Groot (a tree creature from Marvel Comics’ Guardians of the Galaxy) received plant-themed names.
Mostly, the residents’ names reflect their unique personalities—and the staff’s sense of humor.
Ember, a long-tailed macaque, was named for her fiery temper. And Paul Blart is cute with a lot of attitude, caregivers say of the little horse, who’s named for the similarly plucky “mall cop” in the 2009 comedy film.
Meanwhile, tortoises Tesla and Bugatti are “surprisingly fast,” says senior maintenance technician Shane Echols, who mows their enclosure. “Move ’em once, get back on the mower and there they are again, right back in your path.”
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