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Infant Gorillas Sold Online: A Dark Trade Uncovered
9 Mar
Summary
- A man from Jordan was selling infant gorillas.
- The sellers knew they were trafficking endangered species.
- Nigeria established a special office to combat wildlife trafficking.
The illicit trade of endangered species, including infant gorillas, is being exposed, with Nigeria identified as a key trafficking hub. In July 2023, Martin Young of Focused Conservation in Lagos learned that a man from Jordan was actively selling young gorillas online, marketing them to buyers in Egypt and Morocco. The seller's admission of lacking proper documentation for transporting endangered animals confirmed to Young that this was an illegal trafficking operation.
This revelation underscores the deep-seated corruption that facilitates contraband smuggling. Nigeria has been working to combat this issue, notably by creating the Special Wildlife Office in 2021, which subsequently partnered with Focused Conservation in 2022. These efforts aim to disrupt trafficking rings and protect vulnerable wildlife.
