Rangers rescue infant gorilla from black market poachers

The illegal trafficking of baby gorillas is growing according to officials from the Democratic Republic of Congo. On Tuesday, the fourth incident this year, led to the arrest of poachers who are trying to sell an infant gorilla for $40,000.

KINSHASA, CONGO (Catholic Online) - Congolese wildlife authorities said in a statement that this year has seen, "the highest number of baby gorillas confiscated from poachers in a single year on record." They continued, "we are very concerned about a growing black market for baby gorillas that is feeding a dangerous trafficking activity in rebel controlled areas." While the Congolese wildlife Authority admitted they had very little power to control the international trade in baby gorillas, they emphasize that their rangers are doing everything possible to put a stop to it in Congo.

The baby gorilla is believed to have been taken from Congo's Virunga National Park, which is the country's oldest preserve. The park is a habitat for mountain gorillas, lowland gorillas, chimpanzees, elephants, and buffalo. In addition to being critical habitat for these animals, the park has also been the site of fierce fighting during the ongoing 12-year-long civil war.

At least 1 to 2 gorillas per year have been saved since 2003. But officials are more worried about how many may have been missed as opposed to caught.

The latest rescue was the result of a sting operation conducted by park rangers. Acting on a tip, they disguised themselves as potential buyers of the infant gorilla which smugglers had hidden inside a small backpack. Three smugglers were reportedly asking $40,000 for the gorilla. They were arrested on the spot.

Rangers report that the infant gorilla was very tense, and stressed, and terribly frightened.
Experts say that the outlook for the infant gorilla is poor. It is common for poachers to kill an infant gorilla's family especially its mother, because similar to humans these animals do everything they can to protect their young.

It is believed that the most common buyers are unscrupulous zoos in places such as Russia and India, or wealthy people who keep personal zoos of exotic animals. Unfortunately buyers never seem to be caught. And until this happens, the demand for these creatures will persist.

It is unlikely that the infant gorilla will return to the wild. A variety of concerns for its safety, and the safety of other gorillas means that it will probably have to spend the rest of its life confined to a sanctuary.

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