Baboon's mercy mission flight

Willie has a colour television to keep him company

A mistreated baboon who was threatened with being put down has been given sanctuary in the Swansea valley.

Willie had cared for after being found chained, dressed in baby clothes and being poked with sticks in a market.

Although he was given a home for two years, his new owners at the Bahrain Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals could no longer care for him.

After a search by the International Primate Protection League, a call was put into the Cefn-yr-Erw sanctuary in Swansea because they care for the specific Hamadrayas species.

We are calling his bear 'teddy' at the moment and he seems to know what we mean Jan Garen

"He's settled in really well, he's cuddling his teddy bear, you would never know he had had such a long journey," said new owner Jan Garen.

"We got him from Heathrow and we arrived home at 01.30 BST on Monday morning.

"He's had grapes and he loves melon.

"We are calling his bear 'teddy' at the moment and he seems to know what we mean and goes and gets him," she said.

Willie, aged two, will be in quarantine for six months until he is integrated into a group of eight baboons.

"We hope he will be okay in the group, he is young enough not to pose a threat to them and should fit in with the group," said Mrs Garen who runs the centre in Caehopkin, near Ystradgynlais, with her husband Graham.

Mercy mission

Emirates Airline carried out the mercy mission after Mr and Mrs Garen supplied a crate to collect him which flew free of charge.

The airline paid for Willie's passage to the UK after a seven-hour journey from Dubai.

Graham Garen said: "Thanks to the generosity of Emirates in transporting him and the Sanctuaries' vet Rick Irons to care for Willie during the journey, he can now look forward to a new permanent home."

Phil Rawlings, Emirates Cargo Manager for UK and Ireland said: "Willie's story really touched our hearts.

"We're used to transporting and caring for all sorts of animals - such as customers' pets - and we're delighted to have made it possible for Willie to find and now reach his new home."