RESCUED capuchin monkeys are revelling in their first taste of freedom at Dorset's ape sanctuary.

Having been liberated from a medical research laboratory and flown half-way round the world from South America, the 88 primates are settling into their new home at Capuchin Lodge in Monkey World.

"All 88 arrived safely. They all survived the journey even the oldest and youngest, who we were worried about," said a relived Jez Hermer, operations director.

Taken from a lab in Santiago, Chile, this was the world's largest rescue of primates by the leading experts in the rehabilitation of laboratory monkeys and apes at Monkey World near Wool.

The capuchins were flown into Bournemouth Airport by Chilean Air Force Hercules transporter, arriving at 5pm on Tuesday and in their individual travelling cages were driven in a convoy to Monkey World near Wool.

"We fed and watered them and left them in their individual cages overnight," said Jez.

"This morning (yesterday) we started to put them into new houses and introduced them to each other for the first time. They have never had any sustained contact before."

They range in age from two to over 30 and have been kept in solitary confinement in small cages, some for more than 20-years, only taken out for invasive medical experiments.

He said they had put 30 females into a group together and there had not been any problems as they started to explore their new surroundings and each other.

"It's amazing progress. We are really pleased.

"No doubt there will be some challenges ahead but it is going incredibly well," he said.

The animals were rescued after the laboratory, which has now closed down, asked Monkey World to re-home them.

Special permission was given by the British government for the Hercules to land at Bournemouth Airport and centre director Dr Alison Cronin said everyone had pulled together to help in what had been a military operation.

"They have been amazingly helpful. I can't thank them enough.

"They have gone out of their way to assist us in this rescue operation," she said.

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