DHL Express flies disabled chimp Chocolat to new home at Monkey World

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

"Chocolat was an infant when her family was hunted and killed. When she was rescued, she was found to have injuries from shotgun pellets that have left her with a paralysed hand and foot on her right side. After spending the past twenty years in Kenya being looked after by her original rescuer, Chocolat has now found a long-term home at Monkey World, which provides specialist care for chimpanzees that have been smuggled from the wild and/or suffered abuse or neglect. To accommodate her needs, her new enclosure has been treated to upgrades such as lower platforms, new nesting areas, and cargo nets, all designed to make Chocolat's new home as accessible as possible," says an official release from DHL.

Throughout the journey, DHL Express provided Chocolat with VIP service, transporting her in a custom-built crate supported by a team of specialist keepers, aircraft engineers, cargo handlers, security personnel, and pilots. Throughout the trip Chocolat snacked on fresh fruit, nuts and sweet potato, the release added.

"Her journey, which was carefully planned to reduce the amount of time she spent in transit, began at Nairobi Airport on August 15, included a brief stop in Bahrain, and concluded with a seven-hour flight to East Midlands Airport, where she arrived on the morning of August 16. From there, she was transported by road to her new home at Monkey World."

Alison Cronin, Director, Monkey World says: "We're so happy to welcome Chocolat. The reason we exist is to offer a nurturing environment for chimpanzees and other primates and to give them back a fraction of what has been taken from them by humans, providing them with a family again. Companionship of their own kind is vital to chimpanzees' wellbeing as they are social, intelligent animals. Living in family groups in as natural an environment as possible is the best kind of rehabilitation we can provide to chimpanzees like Chocolat. Her integration will be gradual but her journey has been very smooth, thanks to the support of DHL and so far, she is settling in well."

Cain Moodie, EVP, Network Operations, Europe, DHL Express adds: "It has been an honour to help Chocolat, the chimp, relocate to her new home at Monkey World. The logistics of transporting her were quite challenging but our team of experts, in collaboration with Monkey World and her carers in Kenya, took every possible measure to ensure her journey was safe and comfortable. It's a real pleasure for everyone at DHL when we can use our skills and network to contribute to projects such as this."

At her new home, Chocolat is being gradually introduced to six other chimpanzees who will become her adopted family, the release added.