Rare primate stows away on Dutch ship, ends up in Vlissingen

A rare primate which sneaked aboard a Dutch cargo ship in Tanzania will arrive in Vlissingen later on Friday, where it will be picked up by charity group Stichting Aap.

The northern greater galago (Otolemur garnettii) is a noctural primate which lives in trees and is only found in Africa. There are fewer than 20 in European zoos.

The animal, nicknamed Edwin, has been looked after by the crew of the Rolldock Sun since they found it. The foundation says Edwin appears to be in good health but that the animal will have to spend the next 12 weeks in quarantine to make sure it is not carrying any diseases.

After that, it will be found ‘new, suitable accommodation,’ the foundation said.

 

Edwin is not the first stowaway to be found on a Dutch ship. In 2014, five crab-eating macaques were found on board a container ship heading for Rotterdam port. They were all given a permanent home with the primate charity because they were all carrying the herpes virus.

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