British Airways World Cargo Carries Baby Chimps for Free! (29/03/2001)

Two chimpanzees seized by customs officials at Doha airport in September 2000, will today begin their long journey to a new home in Chingola in Africa at the Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage, courtesy of British Airways World Cargo.

The chimps - one female, aged 3 years, and one male aged 15 months, were shipped from Nigeria, via Egypt, before being smuggled into Qatar - their destination a pet store in Doha. They were discovered crammed into a small cylindrical container concealed in a carton carrying some exotic birds. An officer at the airport suspected foul play when the innocent looking cylinder started to sway.

The chimps were initially held in an air-conditioned area at the airport, and fed on fruit and vegetables by 'kind hearted' employees - who had no idea that baby chimpanzees need a special diet and care when away from their mother. Animal lovers in Doha arranged for Doha zoo to take care of the chimpanzees, until a permanent new home could be found for them.

British Airways World Cargo are carrying the chimps, free of charge, to Lusaka in the Republic of Zambia, where they will start their new life at the Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage - the largest chimpanzee sanctuary in the World. Here they will be able to roam in free-range enclosures spanning over 1300 acres.

Emirates are bringing the chimps back to the UK on the morning of Wednesday 28 March. The two chimpanzees will spend the day being cared for by Animal Aircare at British Airways World Cargo at Gatwick, before flying to Lusaka at 2130.

Chimpanzees are an endangered species, protected by CITES accords. Less than 150,000 chimpanzees remain in the wild, and probably 20 adult chimps would have been killed to procure these 2 infants.

Mat Burton, Cargo Manager Gatwick stated "British Airways World Cargo is delighted to be flying these two chimpanzees to Africa and assisting the conservation of this endangered species."