Caesar, a 4ft fibreglass gorilla statue, has found a new home in Mayfair after being evicted from his owner's property in Wakefield, West Yorkshire. The statue, which had been displayed on a platform outside Adele Teale's house for the past 12 months, was removed following a complaint to Wakefield Council that led to a planning permission issue.
From Wakefield to Mayfair
Caesar's journey to London was nothing short of scenic. He posed at Big Ben, visited Downing Street, and cruised through Piccadilly Circus before arriving at his new residence: the Flight Centre store on South Molton Street. 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.'
A 20-Year Companion
Adele Teale, 59, had owned Caesar for over 20 years, with the statue spending 15 years at her previous home in Leeds without incident. '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,' she said. 'He's not gone forever; he's just heading to London for a bit, which feels very him.'
Flight Centre's Commitment to Sustainability
Flight Centre emphasised their commitment to sustainable tourism, with Beevis noting that booking with partners like Intrepid Travel ensures animals and their habitats thrive. '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 added. '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.'
How to See Caesar
Caesar is now on display at Flight Centre's South Molton Street store in Mayfair. To celebrate his arrival, Flight Centre is offering 10% off selected Africa Tours with Intrepid Travel for a limited time.
