Chisato Abe, famous Japanese artist who specializes in
gorillas visited in June, 2000. She met with Dr. Terry Maple of
Zoo Atlanta and present him with an original drawing of Willie B
(photo left by Jane Dewar).Peter Halliday, former lead keeper for 25 years at John Aspinall’s famous Howletts Zoo in England, came for a 2 week visit in June, '97 and fell in love with Fannin County and our property. He's now the Project Manager for GH!
Charles Horton, Willie B’s keeper from Zoo Atlanta, and his wife Cindy Horton, actually hiked the property with us before we purchased it in December 1996, and have returned for subsequent visits.
Ian Williams, from London's Chessington Zoo, with over 30 years gorilla keeping experience, visited in October, '97, with colleague Peter O’Neill. Ian and his family return for another visit in November 2000.
Dr. Angela Meder, of the German gorilla organization, the BRD (Berggorilla & Regenwald Direkthilfe) visited in April, '97.
Dr. Hiroko Yoshida from Tokyo Japan visited in July '97 on a side trip from her study of the gorillas at the Columbus, OH zoo and has returned for more visits over the years.
Dr. Dieter Steklis and Netzin-Gerald Steklis, of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund visited in September '97, when Gerard van der Kroon, lead gorilla keeper at the Amsterdam zoo, was also here.
Dr. Nina Bahr, from Zurich, Switzerland visited in December, '97.
Dr. Alecia Lilly and Dr. Patrick Melman visited in May '97.
Dr. Kim Bard, Dave Leavens, Dr. Linda Brent visited in April, '97.
Jen Feuerstein and Dawn Cordone, from Yerkes Primate Center have been frequent visitors and helpers since March, '98. Indeed many other Yerkes employees, spouses and friends (Jessica, Amber, Josh etc.) have helped us out - Thanks to all of them!
Renée Gainer, gorilla keeper at the Birmingham, AL zoo visited in April, 1998.
Mike Seres, from Yerkes Primate Center visited in February, 1999 and again in July 2000.
Dr. Shirley McGreal, President and founder of IPPL (International Primate Protection League) visited in May of 1999.
Beth Armstrong, for many years a gorilla keeper at world famous Columbus, OH zoo visited in June, 1999 (Columbus Zoo is renowned for having the first gorilla born in captivity, Colo - born December 1956).
David Brown, now at Yerkes Primate Center visited in June, 1999.
Jennifer Chatfield, Lead gorilla keeper of the Los Angeles, CA zoo visited in July, 1999
Meg White, gorilla keeper from the St. Louis, MO zoo visited in August, 1999. St. Louis was one of the first zoos to put together gorilla bachelor groups.
Phil Ridges and Ingrid Naisby, from Port Lympne Zoo, England, visited in September, 1999. Phil used to work for our Project Manager, Pete Halliday, so it was good to see old friends and colleagues again! Phil visited again in September 2000.
Leo Hulsker & Ria Bakker, long time great ape keepers from Apenheul, Holland visited in October 1999. Apenheul has one of the best and largest gorilla collections in the world! Leo and Ria visited again in May 2001, along with their colleague Ronald van der Beek.
Gerard van der Kroon, of Artis Zoo in Amsterdam, Holland and his wife Winnie and daughter Kim visted in October 1999. It was Gerard's second visit to Gorilla Haven.
Lisa Abra and Louise Grossfeldt from Taronga Zoo, Sidney Australia visited in May, 2000 after the Ape Conference in Chicago.
Aliette Jamart and Kay Farmer from H.E.L.P. Congo visited in May, 2000 after meeting us at the Ape Conference in Chicago. Aliette runs one of the only successful chimp release programs in the French Congo. Kay Farmer worked at the Limbe Wildlife Center in Cameroon before joining Aliette.
Chisato Abe, famous Japanese artist who specializes in
gorillas visited in June, 2000. She met with Dr. Terry Maple of
Zoo Atlanta and present him with an original drawing of Willie B
(photo left by Jane Dewar).
David Hamilton, former gorilla keeper now curator at the Knoxville Zoo visited in August 2000.
Brent Swenson, who we'd met at Yerkes in 1997 visited GH in August 2000 and was blown away by our progress, agreeing to join our advisory board and assisting the preparation of our program of Veterinary Care.
Craig Gilchrist and Brian Baxter of Paignton Zoo in England visited in September 2000, bringing over photos of our beloved gorilla Awali, who's in their bachelor gorilla group.
Richard Parnell, fresh from Africa where he is studying Western Lowland Gorillas in their natural habitat visited with in September 2000.
Dr. Lyn H. Miles, who teaches orangutan Chantek sign language (like the gorilla Koko), visited in October 2000.
Dr. Tara Stoinski, Director of Research at Zoo Atlanta visited in April 2001, offering advice on we can better support research at Gorilla Haven.
Mike Kobert, Animal Care Manager, mammal department, at the San Diego Wild Animal Park visited in April 2001, with his girlfriend, Lynn Howard, science teacher.
Dr. Rita McManoman, head veterinarian of Zoo Atlanta visited in May, 2001.
Melanie Bond, working with Great Apes at a zoo in Washington, DC visited in June 2001.
Dr. Sue Savage-Rumbaugh
and Dr. Duane Rumbaugh and some of their
staff from the Georgia Language Research Center visited in August, 2001.
Unfortunately, Kanzi and the other apes couldn't join them. 
You get the idea. We look forward to welcoming gorilla keepers and primate experts from around the world to our bit of paradise in the North Georgia Mountains.