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Gareth
Mulligan
BSc
BVSc. MRCVS
Gareth was our
regular farm vet, until we changed his life with the news that we
were taking the Chimps and Gibbons from Penscynor Wild Life Park,
which had closed down.
The veterinary
practice partners called a meeting to decide who should specialise
in looking after the primates. It has since become obvious, from
some of Gareth's mutterings, that the voting system they used to
nominate him was undemocratic, but he was never one to avoid a
challenge. |
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Working with wildlife
was already a way of life for Simon Adams, one of the other partners
and Gareth only met him for the first time on the day we moved the
chimps from Penscynor. The Chimps were darted, examined and
shipped in relay's to Cefn-yr-Erw. Simon remained at Penscynor,
whilst Gareth went with The Chimps to revive them on arrival. This
seemed to be a good idea in principal.
As we carried the
first chimp, Jeremy, on a stretcher from the wagon to his new
enclosure, I had occasion to point out to Gareth that Jeremy was now
sitting up and that it would be a good idea to hurry. Gareth turned
around to find himself face to face with a non too happy chimpanzee.
I clearly remember his words, but they were not appropriate for
publication on a web-site. I also remember what he said to a camera
man who was blocking our path, and this was not even appropriate for
an army parade ground.
When Gareth brought
his daughter to see the Chimps, they greeted him in their usual way.
Having seen him coming they had collected a pile of forest bark and
dung, which they then threw at him in great handfuls as he
approached the cage. Gareth's daughter asked him "why do they
only do this to you Daddy" and Gareth explained that it was a
special Chimp custom, which they reserved for their favourite
people.
Gareth is now working
with other primates at Cefn-yr-Erw and elsewhere in our area and
he now admits that perhaps he didn't draw the "short
straw" after all. 
Gareth is one of the
best friends we, and our animals, could wish for.
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