THIS pair of extremely rare White-throated guenons are now recovering at Monkey World, after being seized from smugglers at Beirut airport.

Monkey World director Dr Alison Cronin and her team worked alongside the Lebanese authorities and the animal welfare group, Animals Lebanon, to give the pair a home.

Now the monkeys, called Benny and Nia, are at the rescue centre in Wool, where it is hoped they'll make a full recovery following their harrowing ordeal.

The primates, a new species for Monkey World, were confiscated at the airport after being smuggled into Lebanon via a passenger flight from Ghana.

Lebanese authorities have been cracking down on the illegal wildlife trade, after joining the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) five years ago.

The black market trade in primates threatens many species of monkey and ape. Adult animals are often shot, to be eaten as bushmeat, while the youngsters are hunted and smuggled overseas for the illegal pet trade or entertainment industry

Dr Cronin said: "As tragic as their story is, Benny & Nia are the lucky ones that have survived and made it to a safe home. Most die during the hunt or when they are torn away from their families and forest homes to be smuggled across the globe.

"We cannot give them their natural lives back again, but I am pleased to see that they are enjoying their new home and enclosure and their sad story will hopefully remind people about how important it is to protect endangered species and the habitats which they come from."

The guenons were flown back to Monkey World courtesy of Middle Eastern Airlines, under the care of Dr Cronin.

She said: "I am pleased that Monkey World was able to assist the Lebanese government and Animals Lebanon to rescue and rehabilitate these incredibly rare monkeys.

"Monkey World exists to assist governments around the globe to stop the smuggling of primates from the wild.

"Lebanese authorities are putting a lot of effort into protecting endangered species, and organisations such as Monkey World and Animals Lebanon are here to support their efforts by caring for the refugees of the black market trade."