The trafficking of gorillas and chimpanzees, along with the loss of their habitats in West and Central Africa, threatens the future of these species. Until a decade or so ago, the trafficking of baby apes was a byproduct of the bushmeat trade. When the animals were hunted down for meat, the babies left clinging to the corpses of their mothers were yanked away and sold as pets. Now, these baby primates also appear to be the target of traffickers poaching on orders from wealthy individuals in the Middle East and other parts of the world.
Traffickers have become more sophisticated than before in how to couch the illicit trade. Wildlife collectors who purchased animals illegally in the past are now increasingly registering their animal collections as zoos or “rescue and rehabilitation” centers so that they can get permits to transport the animals.
Nigeria is a hub for the trade. Baby gorillas and chimps “harvested” from countries such as Cameroon, Gabon and the Republic of Congo are smuggled into Nigeria and then transported further on to the Middle East. A newly assembled special wildlife unit in Nigeria's Customs Service is working to disrupt the trade.
