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A recent rescue is a worrying sign that the black-market trade in great apes is flourishing, according to the Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA). This story appeared in one of the organisation’s recent newsletters and is published here courtesy of PASA.
Two infant chimpanzees that were confiscated from illegal traders in east Africa have been successfully transferred to the Lwiro sanctuary in the Democratic Republic Congo, where they will be allowed to recover from their ordeal alongside other orphaned primates.
But
this latest transfer – which was coordinated by
the Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA), in
partnership with the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund
International (DFGFI), Disney’s Animal Kingdom,
Lwiro personnel, and the Congolese wildlife
authority (ICCN) – is troubling evidence that
the black-market trade in great apes is
flourishing.
Twenty-eight chimpanzees have been confiscated
by law enforcement officials in Africa so far in
2009, a fraction of the number experts believe
is being smuggled across Africa each year. Yet
sanctuaries are rapidly running out of space and
funds in order to accommodate new arrivals.
“PASA is pleased that so many conservation
organizations were able to work together to help
these two chimpanzees find a permanent home,”
said Doug Cress, executive director of PASA.
“But the marked increase in confiscations this
year is alarming, and the strain on the
sanctuaries is severe. Clearly, we need to
re-double efforts to close down the market for
illegally hunted and captured great apes, and
focus more resources on protecting the forests.”
The two most recent chimpanzees – a pair
of males nicknamed “Butembo” and “Loia”
(pictured above) – had been held for more than a
month at the DFGFI office in Butembo, DR Congo,
while the details of the transfer were arranged.
The chimpanzees are each estimated to be
approximately one-and-a-half years old.
Both chimpanzees arrived at Lwiro
suffering from parasites and malnutrition, but
began playing and eating soon after they were
taken out of their transport box.
PASA was founded in 2000 to coordinate
activities between primate rescue and
rehabilitation centers across Africa. PASA
member sanctuaries currently care for over 850
chimpanzees, in addition to almost 3,000 other
endangered primates, at 18 facilities in 12
countries.
Lwiro is an independent primate rescue
center in DR Congo that lies in South Kivu, near
the Kahuzi-Biega National Park. Lwiro is
expected to apply for PASA membership later this
year.
For more information, please visit the PASA
website or contact
info@pasaprimates.org.
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