The arrest was the culmination of a three-month undercover investigation to bust an international wildlife syndicate. The gorilla belonged to the eastern lowland species only found in DR Congo.
The animal was found concealed under clothes at the bottom of a carrier bag and was suffering from high heat and dehydration after spending over six hours in transit.
“Our investigation has revealed a significant upsurge in the trafficking of baby gorillas in recent months, possibly as a result of the war last year. But we still do not know where these animals are being sent and who is buying them, but sources on the ground tell us that a baby gorilla can fetch up to $20,000,” said Emmanuel de Merode, director of Virunga National Park. 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,” added Mr Merode. The female eastern lowland gorilla, aged approximately two years, is currently being looked after by ICCN caretakers and veterinarians of the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project (MGVP).
She had a puncture wound on her right leg, and had sustained additional injuries on other parts of the body. It is not known how long it had taken since the time she was captured from the forests of eastern DR Congo and the time she was found. She was weak and was suffering from dehydration and malnutrition, but was responding to treatment administered by MGVP.
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