Caesar, a 4ft fibreglass gorilla statue, has found a new home in Mayfair after being evicted from his owner's house in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, earlier this year. The statue, which had been displayed on a platform by owner Adele Teale for the past 12 months, was ordered to be removed by Wakefield Council following a complaint about lack of planning permission. Teale, 59, had previously kept Caesar at her home in Leeds for 15 years without any issues.
Journey to London
Caesar's relocation to London was orchestrated by long-haul travel specialists Flight Centre, who adopted the statue and installed it at their store on South Molton Street in Mayfair. Before arriving at his new home, Caesar took a scenic route through the capital, posing at Big Ben, Downing Street, and Piccadilly Circus. 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.'
Welfare and adjustment
Flight Centre ensured Caesar's welfare during the journey from Wakefield to London. Beevis added: '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.'
Owner's reaction
Adele Teale, Caesar's owner, expressed relief that the statue found a new home. 'Caesar has been part of my life for more than 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.'
Public viewing and promotion
Caesar is now on display at Flight Centre's South Molton Street store in Mayfair, where fans can see him in person. To celebrate his arrival, Flight Centre is offering 10% off selected Africa tours with Intrepid Travel for a limited time. Beevis noted that booking with companies that take sustainable tourism seriously ensures that animals, their habitats, and local communities can thrive.
