Caesar, a 4ft fibreglass gorilla, has found a new home in London after being evicted from his owner's property in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, by the local council. The primate has been adopted by long-haul travel specialists Flight Centre and now resides at their store on South Molton Street in Mayfair.
From Wakefield to Mayfair
Caesar had been displayed on a platform outside the home of 59-year-old Adele Teale for the past 12 months. Teale, who loves gorillas, had previously kept Caesar at her home in Leeds for 15 years without any issues. However, earlier this year, Wakefield Council told her that a complaint had been made and she had to remove Caesar because she lacked planning permission.
Viral Journey to London
Caesar had never visited London before and took a scenic route to his new residence. He posed at Big Ben, dropped in on Downing Street, and cruised through Piccadilly Circus, becoming a viral sensation along the way. Joe Beevis, general manager of Flight Centre, said: "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."
Adjusting to Mayfair Life
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, Caesar's owner, expressed her relief: "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."
Celebratory Offer
Caesar's fans can see him in person at Flight Centre's store on South Molton Street, Mayfair. Additionally, for a limited time and in celebration of Caesar's arrival, Flight Centre is offering 10% off selected Africa tours with Intrepid Travel. Details are available on Flight Centre's website.
