American Primate Educational Sanctuary

I have been a volunteer at A.P.E.S. since October 2019 and it has been one of the most wonderful and rewarding experiences of my life. Not only is it a sanctuary for the primates but a sanctuary for humans. Going there and working with the primates has educated me regarding their care, behavior, diet, health and overall well being. The Gibbons are amazing to observe and interact with. They are extremely happy and I enjoy seeing them play amongst each other but also with their human caregivers. The sanctuary is extremely organized and run with the utmost care. Pam White has done an amazing job creating a sanctuary that the public can come and visit and get to know and experience the primates. Blacklick Ohio has a gem that everyone should visit, from near and far. Sonny, Steffy, Deanna, Shelby, Treavor, Yoda, Malakai and Gabe all love visitors. It is a wonderful experience that you will never forget.

I have been volunteering at A.P.E.S. for almost a year now and it has been a wonderful experience. They take such great steps to make sure that the primates are living their best and happiest lives. The facility is always clean and their is an abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables for the primates meals. The owner is wonderful and the volunteers truly care for the well-being of the primates, myself included. I can't say enough good things about this sanctuary.

Volunteering at A.P.E.S. has been an amazing experience that I will take with me my whole life. As a student at OSU studying Anthropology and focusing on primates, learning about primate care and forming relationships with the primates at A.P.E.S. has given me so much and continues to teach me about these animals and myself. These animals are very intelligent and while it takes a while to earn their trust, once they accept you into the group it is a feeling like no other. Stephanie, a gibbon ape and the oldest primate at A.P.E.S. took 17 months of me volunteering there to open up to me, but it was well worth the wait. I love volunteering here and I would recommend it to anyone interested in wildlife care, zoology, primatology or anthropology.

I started volunteering at APES in my last year of school at The Ohio State University, and stayed for a year before getting an opportunity to intern at Zoo Atlanta in 2014. I was a zoology major and I had the problem that many aspiring zookeepers have: I couldn't get an opportunity at any zoo without experience, but there was nowhere to get that initial exotic animal experience. I am grateful to APES for providing me with that experience. The owner, Pam, and her husband, Don, are some of the most dedicated and caring people I have had the pleasure of knowing. She trusts her volunteers with so much. She constantly provides us with support and knowledge, but is always willing to learn from us and grow herself. Her and her primates have given me memories that I will never forget and often miss. It is a small, quality sanctuary, that provides an exciting and educational experience for college students, animal lovers, and the community.

I volunteered at APES in college as an anthropology major specializing in primates. I learned more about primate behavior here than I did in any of my classes. The sanctuary is an incredible resource for students and educators, as well as a safe haven for primates who were acquired as pets by owners who could no longer keep them in their homes.

Having the opportunity to be a part of this organization has tremendously impacted my life. I am growing as a student and learning to understand each primate’s mannerisms. This has given me an incredible insight into such a complex species. I progress with each interaction, from enrichment to general handling. They have given me a priceless experience and continue to challenge and surprise me. Beyond the interaction with ten Gibbions and two Capuchin monkeys, I am witness to the care and passion from every person involved. From the volunteers to the owner, Pam White, A.P.E.S. creates a warm and welcoming escape. If you are ever in the Blacklick area, and are interested in learning about these fascinating animals, there will always be a friendly face to greet you.

APES is a wonderful facility that provides a fun and loving home for gibbons and Capuchin monkeys. I worked there as a volunteer and I was amazed by the caring and attentive staff. The animals are well cared for and loved, and Pam the owner has done an amazing job teaching the community about her primates.

APES has been a wonderful experience for me. I knew when I started I would enjoy volunteering, but I have grown to love it dearly. The primates are amazing to watch and learn from, and Pam the owner is great. She works so hard to keep the sanctuary running and her passion for the animals is inspiring. Volunteering at APES is one of the very beat choices I have ever made.

It's been over a year since I wrote my first review on APES, and my feelings have only deepened. Pam, the owner, really dedicates her life to maintaining the facility and making sure the primates are all healthy and happy. Even though she has been really struggling financially, she still finds a way to make ends meet and gives the animals the best possible life they could have being in captivity. Just visiting the sanctuary once, you'll see the love and dedication this woman has for her animals. Hands down, an amazing facility.

I started volunteering at this sanctuary at the beginning of this past summer. I love volunteering here and Pam has done an amazing job at making a great place for the primates. I have learned so much and hope to continue learning throughout my time volunteering.

I have been a volunteer at APES since April of 2012, and I've benefitted greatly from the experience both personally and professionally. I assist in caring for the ten gibbons and two capuchin monkeys on site, helping with feeding, cleaning and enrichment activities. The owner, Pam White, entrusts her volunteers with great responsibility, which offers college students like myself a very valuable learning opportunity. APES also works to educate its visitors on primate care so they can better understand these animals. Everything done at APES is solely for the betterment of the primates, and it is evident through Pam's unwavering dedication that APES is an organization filled with love and compassion.

I first heard about the American Primate Educational Sanctuary, APES, about two years ago from a club in school. I fell in love with it the first time I went to volunteer. The owner is the most dedicated person I have ever met. No matter what she does the primates are always on her mind and she works so hard to keep the place running and the primates happy. She constantly is looking to improve the sanctuary and enrich the primates lives. APES raises awareness on the issue of owning exotic pets, as many of the primates were rescued from owners. I am so happy I found APES. It has really changed my life and helping me decide what I want to do with my life, and the owner is always helping out volunteers in their careers whenever she can.

i have been a volunteer at the American Primate Edcational Sanctuary for a little over a year and a half now. The owner houses 10 White-Handed Gibbons which are going extinct in the wild. She really cares about conserving Gibbons and educating people about Gibbons. She strives to help college students gain hands on experience for their future careers as well as teaching people about the dangers of buying primates as pets. Most of the primates she houses she has rescued from private owners. Overall, this facility has far succeeded my expectations. It is well kept and well taken care of and the owner really cares about helping out these Gibbons and other primates as well.