Caehopkin, Abercrave,
Swansea Valley, SA9 1UD
South Wales, UK
Tel +44 (0) 1639 730276
Email:-  info@cefn-yr-erw.co.uk

  

Ronnie

We heard that Ronnie a nineteen year old male chimpanzee at Zoom Erlebniswelt Zoo in Gelsenkirchen, Germay was looking for a new home, but after expressing our initial interest things went quiet or some months. In May 2007 however the Zoo's agents Interzoo called us and we began making detailed preparations to bring Ronnie to Cefn-yr-Erw Primate Sanctuary in Wales.

Ronnie had previously shared accommodation with another other male chimp and we hoped that he would form a small group with Freddie and Nakima who could then share his six month quarantine period, and give him company.

On Thursday 7th June 2007 Graham set off with truck and trailer to Gelsenkirchen, having received the necessary documentation for Ronnie's entry into Britain. The whole journey was filmed by a team from the BBC Animal 24/7 Program

Time is of the essence in reducing stress when transporting animals and we knew that the return journey from Germany by road and ferry would take up to twenty hours.

Ferries charge vehicles according to length and the time of year. In both cases this would have resulted in a high cost for the sea crossing.

P & O however made the magnanimous offer of ferrying Graham, Ronnie and the TV team across the Channel and back for free. 

We all thank them and appreciate their kindness and support. 

 

On arrival at Zoom Erlebniswelt Zoo in Gelsenkirchen (see picture of the chimp house on left) a well organised team swung into action to prepare Ronnie for his trip and to minimise any stress and concern. 

Although Ronnie is a cool character and used to humans he had to be sedated (see picture below, left) for his own safety and that of his handlers for his transfer into the specially designed transport box.

Well before we set off back to the ferry however Ronnie had awoken from his short nap and was sitting up looking for attention. Everyone was pleased at how un-fased he had been by the whole procedure.

 

We still had concerns however as to how he would tolerate the long journey to Wales and whether this would be aggravated by delays.

As it turned out he was absolutely marvellous throughout the whole eighteen hour return journey, and the fact that Marcus his keeper for the previous fifteen years came back to Wales with him must have helped to re-assure him that all was well.

He received priority treatment in Calais where a police escort whisked everyone through the traffic, security and customs and on to the ship. Neither did we have any undue delays at Dover or on the drive home.

We all arrived at Cefn-yr-Erw tired, but happy that what had not been an easy thing to arrange had all gone so smoothly.

Ronnie was amazing. He seemed so at home in his new quarters and was clearly very pleased to meet Freddie and Nakima who were next door, so much so that we decided that within a few days we would try putting all three chimps together. Marcus went back to Gelsenkirchen the next day, happy that his friend had a good future.

It is not really surprising that Ronnie, Freddie and Nakima did get on well when we later put them together, because they are all such sociable and easy going characters.

Nakima follows him around like his shadow and grooms him whenever she can get him to stay still for long enough. Ronnie however seems more interested in playing with Freddie who loves his company and the pair enjoy many a rough-and-tumble.

 

Ronnie and Nakima have always enjoyed close contact with people and whilst in quarantine they will only see the public from a distance. Now that they have formed a new group their six months quarantine will fly by however and they can share it in what will now become their permanent home.

Everyone concerned in bringing Ronnie to our sanctuary is not only pleased, but relieved at the outcome, because fully grown male chimps are not easy to introduce into other groups, which is one reason why they find it difficult to find new homes.

Ronnie is clearly a well adjusted chimp who has been well cared for and we are really pleased to have him. He will continue to be cared for in the manner to which he is accustomed.

 

AOur UK registered charity number is 1076645      To adopt a chimp please click here