East Midlands Airport plays part in getting rescued chimp to new home

"It’s fantastic that East Midlands Airport could play a part in bringing Chocolat the chimp to her new home."

East Midlands Airport (EMA) have played a part in bringing a chimpanzee rescued from poachers to its long-term home.

Chocolat the female chimp was flown to EMA by DHL Express from Nairobi via Bahrain in a custom-built crate and supported by a team of specialist keepers, aircraft engineers, cargo handlers, security personnel and pilots.

Throughout the trip, Chocolat snacked on fresh fruit, nuts and sweet potato.

From the airport, she was transported by road to her new home at Monkey World.

EMA’s Managing Director Steve Griffiths said: “It’s fantastic that East Midlands Airport could play a part in bringing Chocolat the chimp to her new home at Monkey World where we hope she will live out her days happily.

“While transporting a chimpanzee on an aircraft is out of the ordinary, it shows what a vital international hub East Midlands Airport is and the important part it plays in connecting the UK with the whole world through its unrivalled cargo operation.”

Chocolat’s family was hunted and killed when she was an infant, as part of the illegal bushmeat trade in the Republic of Congo. She had injuries from shotgun pellets that have left her with a paralysed hand and foot. She was rescued and cared for in Kenya for twenty years before finding her new home at Monkey World, which provides specialist care for chimpanzees smuggled from the wild or suffered abuse or neglect.

Cain Moodie, EVP Network Operations for DHL Express in Europe said: "Facilitating Chocolat the chimp's relocation to Monkey World has been an honour. The logistics of transporting her were quite challenging, but our team of experts, in collaboration with Monkey World and her carers in Kenya, took every possible measure to ensure her journey was safe and comfortable.

“It’s a real pleasure for everyone at DHL when we can use our skills and network to contribute to projects such as this.”