PIC BY PHIL HOUGHTON / CATERS NEWS / ANIMAL PRESS (PICTURED: Mwambe a western lowland gorilla has a radio tracker fitted prior to being crated for her long journeyy home) - A FAMILY of nine gorillas have embarked on a journey of a lifetime, travelling more than 5,000 miles from the wildlife park where they live in Kent, to a more natural home in West Africa. Aboard the DHL courier lorries which left the UK this weekend, were Djala, a 30-year-old silverback, his four mates and their four infants, aged between eight months and six years old. The animals will be flown across the world to a tropical island and set free in Batéké Plateau National Park in Gabon, West Africa. Conservationist, Damian Aspinall, 53, has had Djala, the giant silverback, under the care of the Aspinall Foundation since he was rescued from poachers in Africa. The huge gorilla, who weighs just over 30 stone, flourished in captivity and has fathered 15 offspring, four of which are travelling with him back to his natural habitat. Damian said: This is, without question, the riskiest and bravest thing weve ever done, said Aspinall, 53, who inherited control of the wildlife parks from his late father, John Aspinall, the casino owner. SEE CATERS COPY *** Local Caption ***
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