Lulu, left, and Martin spending quality time together. Picture by Robin Crossley.
IT IS a love story that spanned hundreds of miles and, after months of hard work and fundraising, Martin and Lulu, two capuchin monkeys at the Owl and Monkey Haven, have been united.
Martin, the country’s only white-throated capuchin, had been alone since his brother died in 2010. The team at the Staplers, Newport, animal haven have worked since then to find him a companion.
They found Lulu, who was rejected by her group at a French zoo, and began an operation to bring her to the Isle of Wight.
She arrived in December but had to go through quarantine procedures and wait while enough money was raised to build a special enclosure, before she could be introduced to Martin.
This week they were finally introduced to each other.
David Wickes, of the Owl and Monkey Haven, said: "It could not have gone better.
"They have taken to each other straight away, they are already grooming each other and Martin is protective of Lulu.
"We would not have been able to do this without the support of the public.
"It has been amazing that people have been so generous when times are so hard for lots of people."
Reporter: ross.findon@iwcp.co.uk