PEANUT BUTTER CUP and MARSHMALLOW

PEANUT BUTTER & MARSHMALLOW
Species: Rhesus Macaque (Peanut Butter) & Rhesus/Java Mix (Marshmallow)
DOBs: Peanut Butter – January 23 (Assigned) | Marshmallow – January 17 (Assigned)
Arrived at SPS: End of 2022
Origin: Former private pets, placed through Florida Wildlife Commission

Peanut Butter and Marshmallow share a long and winding history—first as privately kept monkeys, later placed with another caregiver then finally arriving at SPS together in late 2022. They were part of a trio, along with Valentine, whose dynamics together was spirited but sometimes stormy. After tensions emerged, the group was separated for everyone’s safety, and each now lives with more calm and individualized care.

Peanut Butter, a male rhesus macaque, is confident, expressive, and can be surprisingly gentle, though he can be quite feisty and aggressive, reminding us that monkeys are wild animals.  Often the first to explore new enrichment or food, he doesn’t hesitate to show his curiosity—or his preferences. He enjoys painting, is enthusiastic about nearly any treat, and recently delighted in a custom newspaper box created for his birthday. Caregivers often describe him as a gentle giant, full of presence and personality, with a thoughtful gaze that lingers on those who take time with him.

Marshmallow, a rhesus/Java macaque mix, brings a softer energy to their pairing. She is more reserved, often choosing to observe before engaging, though her roommates dominance also commands this. Her movements are graceful, and her temperament is deeply intuitive—quietly sensing the moods around her and adjusting with care. She has been known to sit in a variety of yoga poses for long lengths of time, while seemingly relaxed. She enjoys playing with a rubber ball, the challenge of the peanut kong and engaging in some wild eyed chants with some people that seem to trigger her wild side.  

Marshmallow’s long bond with Peanut Butter brings security, comfort and companionship, and their mutual presence continues to bring balance to the other. Their lives offer a glimpse into the long-term emotional depth of primates, and why keeping them as pets often ends in heartbreak. Their early years as pets limits their future to be the kind of wild animals they were intended to be, so sanctuary is the next best option for them, caring for them in ways that honor who they are now.