Libreville authorities arrest four for illegal chimpanzee trafficking

Four individuals were arrested in Libreville, Gabon, for the illegal possession and attempted sale of a nine-month-old baby chimpanzee. The operation was conducted by the Gabonese Water and Forests administration and the judicial police, supported by the NGO Conservation Justice.

According to reports, the young primate had previously been subject to a transaction involving 350,000 CFA francs. The suspects, which include two women aged 31 and 51, were apprehended in flagrante delicto. Under Article 92 of the Gabonese Forestry Code, the detention of fully protected species is strictly prohibited. The suspects face potential penalties including three to six months of imprisonment and fines ranging from 10,000 to 10 million CFA francs.

The rescued chimpanzee has been transferred to the Lékédi Park with assistance from the association Gabon Untouched. The site is managed by the Lékédi Biodiversity Foundation, a member of the Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA), which specializes in the care of wildlife victims of trafficking.