DHL Express Brings Female Monkey “Chocolat” to New Home

DHL Express and Monkey World announced today that they have successfully relocated Chocolat, a female chimpanzee and orphan of the illegal bushmeat trade in the Republic of Congo, to her new long-term home at the Monkey World – Ape Rescue Centre in Dorset, UK.

(Bonn) Chocolat was still an infant when her family was hunted and killed. When she was rescued, it was discovered that she had been injured by shotgun pellets. These injuries resulted in paralysis of her right hand and right foot. After spending the last twenty years in Kenya, where she was cared for by her original rescuer, Chocolat has now found a long-term home at Monkey World. The facility specializes in caring for chimpanzees that have been smuggled from the wild, abused, or neglected. To make Chocolat’s new home as accessible as possible and to meet her needs, her new enclosure has been equipped with lower platforms, as well as new nesting areas and nets.

Monkey World was founded in 1987 to provide a home for chimpanzees that were exploited as props for tourist photographers on the beaches of Spain. Since then, the organization has repeatedly rescued monkeys, apes, and prosimians that have been abused or mistreated by humans. It has assisted 29 governments in confiscating victims of the illegal primate trade and relocating them to new homes. The 65-acre sanctuary in Dorset, UK, now houses over 230 primates from 25 different species. Chocolat is among 52 other chimpanzees living in 4 groups under as natural conditions as possible.

Throughout the journey, Chocolat was treated like a VIP by DHL Express, transported in a specially made crate and cared for by a team of specialized animal keepers, aircraft engineers, cargo handlers, security personnel, and pilots. During the entire journey, Chocolat nibbled on fresh fruits, nuts, and sweet potatoes.

Transit Times Kept as Short as Possible

Chocolat’s journey, which was carefully planned to keep transit times as short as possible, began on August 15 at Nairobi Airport, included a brief stop in Bahrain, and ended after a seven-hour flight to East Midlands Airport in the UK, where she arrived on the morning of August 16. From there, she was transported by land to her new home at Monkey World.

In her new home, Chocolat will gradually be introduced to six other chimpanzees who will become her adoptive family. Monkey World houses chimpanzees rescued from 16 different countries. Chocolat’s new family was rescued from Mexico, Argentina, Cyprus, and Thailand and also has various disabilities due to their tragic backgrounds. She has already made friendly contact with Bryan, the dominant male in her group, and for the first time in over 20 years, touched another chimpanzee. She is getting used to a diet with a greater variety of vegetables than she was previously accustomed to. As she learns to be a chimpanzee again, Chocolat is expected to spend the rest of her days peacefully at Monkey World. Chimpanzees like Chocolat have an average lifespan of 50 years.

Various Organizations Provide Support

Other organizations that supported Chocolat’s journey include African Apes and the William Holden Wildlife Foundation, founded by actress Stefanie Powers in honor of William Holden.

Stefanie Powers, founder of the William Holden Wildlife Foundation, said: “As an animal rights advocate, I am concerned about the illegal trade in primates, which continues unabated. Only through the extraordinary efforts of people like Alison Cronin and her team at Monkey World can our fellow beings be rescued and rehabilitated. We are only a fraction of the DNA away from all our primate brothers and sisters, and it is a privilege to be able to make a small contribution to their preservation and protection. Thanks to the extraordinary generosity and support of DHL, a very special chimpanzee named Chocolat will have the chance for a fulfilling life. As a friend of Chocolat, I am very grateful to DHL and Monkey World.”

Dr. Alison Cronin MBE, director of Monkey World, said: “We are so happy to welcome Chocolat. We want to provide chimpanzees and other primates with an environment where they feel comfortable and give them back a part of what humans have taken from them by providing them with a family again. The company of peers is vital for the well-being of chimpanzees, as they are social, intelligent animals. Living in family groups in as natural an environment as possible is the best form of rehabilitation we can offer chimpanzees like Chocolat. Her integration will be gradual, but thanks to DHL’s support, her journey went very smoothly, and so far, she has settled in well.”

A Significant Challenge

Cain Moodie, EVP Network Operations at DHL Express in Europe, said: “It was an honor for us to support Chocolat in her move to her new home at Monkey World. The logistics of her transport were quite a challenge, but our expert team worked closely with Monkey World and their caregivers in Kenya to ensure her journey was safe and comfortable. It is a great joy for all of us at DHL when we can use our skills and our network to contribute to projects like this.”

Foto: © DHL