New sanctuary for rescued baboons

The quarantine block has been built especially for the baboons

Eight baboons are settling into their new home after a race against time to save them from being put down.

They were in temporary accommodation in Portugal after being saved from a zoo but authorities told rescuers they had to be re-housed or they would be shot.

A vet in Newport highlighted their plight and a new enclosure has been built at the Cefn-yr-Erw primate sanctuary at Abercrave.

The animals arrived in the UK from Faro at the weekend.

An eight-week deadline was imposed by the Portuguese authorities in June this year after the failure of a worldwide search to rehouse the baboons.

Peter Heathcote, a vet in Newport and trustee with the Exotic Animal Trust, raised the issue.

They are getting used to seeing trees and climbing Jan Garen

The only help available came from Jan and Graham Garen who run the rescue centre.

They offered to re-house them but were struggling to raise £5,000 to build a quarantine block.

But donations totalling £18,000 flooded in.

Initially the Garens were told to expect five baboons but had a surprise when the primates arrived.

"They flew in from Faro to Gatwick Airport and are finally here after all the admin problems," said Mrs Garen.

"The surprise was that there were eight when they arrived - including two young.

"They had been living inside for years and you can imagine in what kind of conditions when nobody even knew how many there were.

"Now they are getting used to seeing trees and climbing.

"They are all a little under-weight, but I think that is due to lack of muscle."