Four arrested in Libreville for attempting to sell baby chimpanzee

The arrests were made by the Water and Forests Administration and the Judicial Police, with support from the NGO Conservation Justice. Among those apprehended were two women, aged 31 and 51. The chimpanzee is a fully protected species in Gabon, and its possession is prohibited under Article 92 of the Forest Code.

Initial findings suggest this may not be the first instance of trafficking involving one of the suspects and this particular chimpanzee, which was reportedly sold previously for 350,000 CFA francs. The arrested individuals were questioned, and the main suspect is in police custody. They face potential penalties under Gabonese law, specifically Articles 92 and 199 of the Forest Code and Decree No. 163.

Article 275 outlines possible sentences of three to six months imprisonment and a fine ranging from 10,000 to 10,000,000 CFA francs, or one of these penalties. Beyond the illegality, handling wild animals poses significant health risks, including the transmission of zoonotic diseases like Ebola, as highlighted by the current context in the Democratic Republic of Congo. With assistance from the association Gabon Untouched, the baby chimpanzee has been transferred to the Lekedi Park, managed by the Lekedi Biodiversity Foundation and a member of the Pan African Sanctuary Alliance PASA.

Eric Willaume, the park director, emphasized the