A four-foot gorilla statue has been relocated to London after it had to be removed from a plinth above a woman’s house in Wakefield, West Yorkshire.
It comes as Wakefield Council deemed the plastic primate, known as Caesar, “made a negative effect on the area’s landscape” and had to be taken down.
Former owner Adele Teale, 59, faced a fine of up to £20,000 if she refused to remove Caesar. Now he has been adopted by long-haul travel specialists Flight Centre to remind fans that the best way to see apes is in the wild.
The mum-of-one describes Caesar as “beautiful” and had proudly mounted the beloved replica animal outside her Wakefield home for 12 months before the council ordered his removal this month.
Prior to this, he was in pride of place on Adele’s previous home in Leeds for over 15 years without cause for concern.
Caesar has now gone from a much-loved Wakefield attraction to a superstar in the capital. Flight Centre has given him pride of place in its store on South Molton Street, where it is hoped he will continue to inspire people’s wanderlust for the natural world.
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.
Caesar has been adopted by long-haul travel specialists Flight Centre
|
FLIGHT CENTRE
“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.”
Caesar, despite his global fame, had never visited London before, prompting Flight Centre to give him a memorable journey to its store.
Before settling into his new Mayfair home, Caesar took the scenic route through the capital, posing at Big Ben, dropping in on Downing Street, and cruising past Piccadilly Circus.
Caesar took the scenic route through the capital before arriving at his new home
|
FLIGHT CENTRE
Adele Teale, Caesar’s owner, said: “Caesar has been part of my life for over 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.”
Last month, she told GB News: “I hadn’t then heard anything from the council in months, but now have been told that the gorilla needs to come down by June 9 or I could face a fine of £20,000 or even go to court about it because of planning permission.
“I don’t understand why Caesar has to go through; he’s on my property, and I get that he’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but I think he’s cool, and the kids that go by love him.”
Adele Teale looked after Caesar for more than 20 years
|
FLIGHT CENTRE
She had appealed to the Government’s Planning Inspectorate and started a petition which received more than one thousand signatures.
But the Government’s Planning Inspectorate ruled in Wakefield Council’s favour, confirming the gorilla had to be removed from the home.
The council did advise that she could move the gorilla to her garden, but Adele removed him and he is now at the Flight Centre.
For anyone planning a trip to see gorillas in the wild, Flight Centre works with sustainable tourism partners such as Intrepid Travel – a B Corp-certified tour operator – whose Africa tours are designed around conservation and direct benefit to local communities. Holidaymakers can see magnificent wildlife in person and be reassured that trip fees contribute to habitat protection and the work that makes gorilla encounters possible in the first place.
Caesar will be at the Flight Centre Mayfair store at 49 South Molton Street from 24 June for a limited period.