Words: Isla Harvey
A DISTRESSED baby gorilla was rescued from wildlife smugglers in a
bust at a Congo airport on Sunday (26.04.09).
The Congolese Wildlife Authority seized the gorilla from smugglers
following a dangerous 3-month undercover investigation to expose an
international wildlife smuggling ring.
More pictures and the full story:
The gorgeous eastern lowland gorilla, which is only found in DR Congo,
was found hidden under clothes and shrubbery at the bottom of a bag.
She was suffering from over-heating, malnutrition, dehydration and
stress after spending over 6 hours in transit.
The poaching ring had been trading in baby gorillas, chimps,
endangered animals and ivory. One suspected trafficker was caught with
the 2-year-old primate and arrested at Goma International Airport on
Sunday while disembarking from a flight from Walikale (an area close
to the gorilla habitat in the centre of war torn Congo).
The little gorilla has a number of injuries including a puncture wound
on her right leg. It is not known how long ago she was removed from
her mother in the forest. She is now being cared for at the Mountain
Gorilla Veterinary Project in Congo and is said to be “weak” but
recovering well.
Emmanuel de Merode, Director of Virunga National Park said: “Our work
has revealed a significant upsurge in the trafficking of baby gorillas
in recent months, possibly as a result of the war last year.
“Investigations have yet to reveal where these animals are being sent
and who is buying them, but on the ground sources tell us that a baby
gorilla can fetch up to $20,000,” he added.
Around 1,100 Park Rangers protect the National Parks of eastern DR
Congo, The parks are home to mountain gorillas, lowland gorillas,
chimpanzees, forest elephants and rhinos and other wildlife.
The Rangers have continued to work, often unpaid, despite the dangers
of the civil war, which has ravaged the area. Poaching, wildlife
trafficking and habitat destruction remain the main threats to the
survival of the wildlife in these World Heritage sites.
Over 150 Rangers have been killed in the last 10 years protecting the
5 parks of eastern DRC.
Emmanuel de Merode said: “We must remember that for each trafficked
baby gorilla, several gorillas have probably been killed in the wild.
If we want to preserve our gorillas – and other wildlife – significant
resources must be invested to put a stop to these trafficking rings.”
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