AR-News: "Sheikh Bahrain William"

Tue Mar 30 20:46:46 EST 2004

From: primfocus at waste.org

Thanks to the dedication and tenacity of dozens of people around the world, "Sheikh Bahrain William" aka "Bahrain Willie Baboon" has arrived at his new home at Cefn-yr-Erw Primate Rescue Sanctuary in Wales [see http://www.cefn-yr-erw.co.uk/index.htm].  

Appended further below is an announcement from Peg Altemueller, one of the wonderful volunteers at Bahrain SPCA who cared for Willie for 2 1/2 years and who spearheaded Willie's rescue.

The photos of Willie can be viewed at http://www.aesop-project.org/Willie/wales.htm

Please consider writing Emirates Air and thanking them for donating transportation for Willie.

Emirates Air
Al Al'ali Shopping Complex
Block 428, Road 2827
Building No. 2210 Al Seef District
P.O Box 21354
Manama 
Bahrain

-----Original Message-----
From:  Peg
Sent: Tuesday, March 30, 2004 4:23 AM
Subject: Barain Willie transforms to Swansea Willie

Dear Friends of Willie,

I didn’t want to have to send these photos out to tons of different people many different ways … so … everyone is getting the same e-mail.

Some of you already know that Willie is safely in his new home in Wales, UK. He arrived about 1:30 am Monday morning. He traveled extremely well and Graham and Jan said he seemed none for the wear.

There are many many people to thank. I will be writing the “Willie story” very soon and everyone will be formally thanked.

But for starters …. Shirley McGreal from IPPL for her assistance over the past 28 months in helping us get Willie out of Bahrain. To Gary Chapman and all his fine folks at Emirates Air for making his travels possible by not only shipping Willie FOC (BA-DUB-LON), but covering the costs of sending a fantastic vet from Wales to assist us (Richard Irons). To Norma Dennis, who not only canvassed Emirates to get them to tackle our project, but also made all the intricate travel arrangements and handled all the detailed permits and paperwork (it was quite the undertaking). To the BSPCA who allowed Willie to be housed at the sanctuary all this time, and hung in there long enough to see him to his new future. Time was running out because of Willie growing up and us not having the proper facility and means to care for him. To our four wonderful caretakers at the Sanctuary who saw to Willie’s every day needs (they became a real friend to Willie). To Cheryl Gerringer, Willie’s ori!
ginal Mum, turned Auntie, who hung in there during the whole sorted process. To Denise Jennings who became quite the friend to Willie and often fed him his favourite yogurt and helped give him the love he deserved. To Linda Howard in Texas, USA and Stuart King in London who not only connected us with many people all over the world, but helped teach us how to care for Willie in addition to helping us through some difficult times. To the fine folks at CARE in Phalaborwa, SA who stuck with us long and hard. To Mia Mattsson in Sweden who taught me how to better communicate with Willie. To my dear husband, John, who put up with each and every one of our Willie frustrations from the very beginning ! To all our other primate friends all over the world who advised us how to care for Willie and gave the possibility of homing him a go.

Mostly …. To Graham and Jan Garen in Wales at Cefn-yr-Erw Rare Breeds Farm and Primate Sanctuary in Swansea Valley, South Wales. Once Shirley McGreal contacted them, they were quick to rise to Willie’s need, and began the approval process of all the paperwork, in addition to building new quarters and a quarantine station … and I must say … at an amazing pace. The whole project was completed in less than 3 months time … and at a tremendous cost to them.

Again, there are many more people to thank .. and this will come in the full Willie story … but I had to send something along with these fantastic photos that Graham and Jan sent.

This shows the beautiful and wonderful place Graham and Jan have made for Willie … and we can tell Willie will be ever so happy in his new home. Have to say we feel as if we have sent Willie off to college to learn how to be a monkey. You know, he really doesn’t know that he is one .. he thinks we were his monkeys .. and we were just the ugly ones !!

Cheers .. and more to come
Thanks to everyone !
Love
Peg and Cheryl

PS .. check out these two links:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/3579757.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/2746941.stm

the wild, cruel beast is not behind the bars of the cage. he is in front of it - axel munthe

"Never doubt that a small group of dedicated citizens can change the world. 
Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."      Margaret Mead
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