Nigeria Customs Service repatriates rescued baby gorilla to Congo

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has completed its first full-cycle international wildlife operation by repatriating a rescued female baby gorilla, named Bili, to the Republic of Congo.

Bili was originally intercepted by customs officers in August 2023 during an enforcement operation against wildlife trafficking. Following her rescue, she underwent rehabilitation at the Pandrillus Foundation in Calabar. A DNA test subsequently confirmed her origin as the Republic of Congo, leading to her return to the Réserve Naturelle de Tchimpounga in Pointe-Noire.

The repatriation was conducted between September 22 and 28, 2026, and was supported by the CITES Management Authority under Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Environment. Because gorillas are listed under Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), they receive the highest level of international protection. The transport from Calabar to Lagos and then to Congo was facilitated by DHL at no cost, accompanied by a veterinary doctor and a caregiver.