Everyone loves a good animal story, whether it’s a wacky historical tale about monkeys living wild in Warwick for years or the heartwarming tale of a dog rescued from a pound who is now saving lives through police search, well, a rescue dog.

In 2024, the Providence Journal has had its share of unique animal stories. Some are touching, others tug at the heartstrings, but all share a similar common thread: they all highlight the unique light that animals bring into our lives.

Here are six stories about our furry, feathered, spotted and sometimes wild animals that are worth revisiting between now and 2025.

Escaped from Rocky Point Zoo, these monkeys ran wild in Warwick for years

When it comes to monkeys escaping from zoos, some escapes can match the amazing story of what happened at Rocky Point Amusement Park in 1937.

Here’s how the monkeys got out, who helped them afterward and what happened to the Rocky Point monkeys, drawn primarily from stories in the archives of the Providence Journal and its sister paper, The Evening Bulletin.

More: Escaped from Rocky Point Zoo, these monkeys ran wild in Warwick for years

Spotting a black bear in your RI yard soon may not be unusual. What to do if you see one.

Rhode Island is believed to have only a “handful” of resident black bears, all males, but the the population here will probably increase.

Bear sightings here have increased in recent years, and in the near future, spotting a bear in Rhode Island may become more than a once-in-a-lifetime event.

“I believe over the next decade we will continue to see more bears,” said Morgan Lucot, furbearer specialist for the DEM.

More: Spotting a black bear in your RI yard soon may not be unusual. What to do if you see one.

How to give an elephant a pedicure? It’s one man’s passion at the Roger Williams Park Zoo

“You can’t force a 5-ton animal to do something it doesn’t want to do.” So, how do you give an elephant a pedicure?

“You can imagine being that big, with all the weight on their feet, how important their feet are,” says Haskins, the zoo’s elephant zookeeper. Roger Williams Park Zoo.

With 25 years of experience caring for elephants, Haskins traveled 7,300 miles to Nepal in November and contributed to an elephant health camp where experts examined Asian elephants, vaccinated them and treated their illnesses.

Haskins has given pedicures to nearly 100 elephants and provided hands-on training to local elephant handlers, called mahouts, in caring for their elephants’ legs and spotting and avoiding potential problems.

More: How to give an elephant a pedicure? It’s one man’s passion at the Roger Williams Park Zoo

Once unwanted, these lucky dogs have been saved. Now they learn to save others.

Toby was a misbehaving chocolate Labrador retriever. He wanted to work, but he was stuck in an animal shelter.

Then, all of a sudden, he found himself in the running for a high-flying dog career – with all the benefits that come with it.

Just being considered for K9 training was quite an accomplishment for a dog like Toby.

More: Once unwanted, these lucky dogs have been saved. Now they learn to save others.

Aviary Ambitions: After Devastating Fire, RI Parrot Rescue Opens New Sanctuary

As for the people of Encourage parrots Worry no cage is big enough, but they hope to build something better with a new 29,000 square foot sanctuary for their rescued birds.

Founded in 1989, the Hope Valley nonprofit says it is the largest parrot rescue in the Northeast and the demand for find new homes or offer shelter for pet parrots has never been greater.

Foster Parrots raises about 400 birds at its exotic New England wildlife sanctuary, mostly birds that have health problems or don’t do well in homes, but a fire at the sanctuary in 2021 killed about 90 birds and reduced sanctuary space by about a third.

Ambitions of the aviary: After devastating fire, RI Parrot Rescue opens new sanctuary

‘They’re the best people I’ve ever met’: Goatscaper works and lives on a bus with goats

Wayne Pitman, 51, lives in a old school bus with 20 goats traveling around Rhode Island to remove poison ivy, invasive plants and brush from overgrown properties.

“It’s a unique type of job,” Pitman says. “Living on a bus with 20 goats is a little different. I couldn’t do it with people.”

Pitman’s goat team is one of 76 goats that live at The Sanctuary of Hopeon Hope Furnace Road in the Scituate village of Hope, a rescue farm founded by Pitman and Jackie Magnan.

More: ‘They’re the best people I’ve ever met’: Goatscaper works and lives on a bus with goats

This article was originally published in the Providence Journal: Goats, elephants and monkeys: the remarkable animal stories of 2024