AR-News: "Bahrain Willie" - rescued baboon reaches Welsh sanctuary

[Shirley McGreal]

Baboon's mercy mission flight

A mistreated baboon who was threatened with being put down has been given 
sanctuary in the Swansea valley.

Willie had cared for after being found chained, dressed in baby clothes and 
being poked with sticks in a market.

Although he was given a home for two years, his new owners at the Bahrain 
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals could no longer care for him.

After a search by the International Primate Protection League, a call was 
put into the Cefn-yr-Erw sanctuary in Swansea because they care for the 
specific Hamadrayas species.

We are calling his bear 'teddy' at the moment and he seems to know what we 
mean
Jan Garen

"He's settled in really well, he's cuddling his teddy bear, you would never 
know he had had such a long journey," said new owner Jan Garen.

"We got him from Heathrow and we arrived home at 01.30 BST on Monday morning.

"He's had grapes and he loves melon.

"We are calling his bear 'teddy' at the moment and he seems to know what we 
mean and goes and gets him," she said.

Willie, aged two, will be in quarantine for six months until he is 
integrated into a group of eight baboons.

"We hope he will be okay in the group, he is young enough not to pose a 
threat to them and should fit in with the group," said Mrs Garen who runs 
the centre in Caehopkin, near Ystradgynlais, with her husband Graham.

Mercy mission

Emirates Airline carried out the mercy mission after Mr and Mrs Garen 
supplied a crate to collect him which flew free of charge.

The airline paid for Willie's passage to the UK after a seven-hour journey 
from Dubai.

Graham Garen said: "Thanks to the generosity of Emirates in transporting 
him and the Sanctuaries' vet Rick Irons to care for Willie during the 
journey, he can now look forward to a new permanent home."

Phil Rawlings, Emirates Cargo Manager for UK and Ireland said: "Willie's 
story really touched our hearts.

"We're used to transporting and caring for all sorts of animals - such as 
customers' pets - and we're delighted to have made it possible for Willie 
to find and now reach his new home."

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/wales/south_west/3579757.stm

Published: 2004/03/29 14:48:51 GMT

© BBC MMIV