Caesar, the 4ft fibreglass gorilla who became a viral sensation after being evicted from his home in West Yorkshire, has found a new home at Flight Centre's store on South Molton Street in London. The primate was adopted by the long-haul travel specialists after Wakefield Council ordered owner Adele Teale to remove him from her property due to a lack of planning permission.
From Wakefield to Mayfair
The 59-year-old gorilla enthusiast had displayed Caesar on a platform outside her house in Wakefield for the past 12 months. Prior to that, Caesar had spent 15 years at her previous home in Leeds without any complaints. However, earlier this year, the council informed Teale that a complaint had been lodged, and she had to remove the gorilla as she had not obtained planning permission.
Caesar's journey to London was a scenic one. He posed at Big Ben, dropped in on Downing Street, and cruised through Piccadilly Circus before arriving at his new residence in Mayfair.
Flight Centre's Natural Fit
Joe Beevis, general manager of Flight Centre, explained why the company stepped in: "We send nature lovers to see wildlife in Africa every year, so when we heard Caesar needed a new home, it felt like the natural fit. Caesar is a reminder that the best wildlife encounters are live ones. Booking with companies who take sustainable tourism seriously, such as our travel partner Intrepid Travel, means the animals, their habitats and local communities that make those moments possible can continue to thrive."
Beevis added: "We took Caesar’s welfare extremely seriously on the journey down from Wakefield, and, on arrival in London we felt it was only right to show him the sights of our great city. He's now installed at our South Molton Street store and is adjusting to Mayfair life very well. We've had no complaints, though he has developed strong opinions about the air conditioning."
Owner's Relief
Adele Teale expressed her relief at the outcome: "Caesar has been part of my life for more than 20 years and I wasn’t going to give up on him without a fight, but I’m really glad this is how it’s ended up. He’s not gone forever; he’s just heading to London for a bit, which feels very him. I was glad to be there to hand him over in person and I know he’s going to be properly looked after by Flight Centre, who care as much about animal welfare as I do."
Special Offer for Fans
Caesar's fans can see him in person at Flight Centre's store on South Molton Street, Mayfair. In celebration of Caesar's arrival, Flight Centre is offering 10% off selected Africa Tours with Intrepid Travel for a limited time. Details are available on Flight Centre's website.
