Last week a two-day conference in Kigali, Rwanda, saw a range of groups from the ten African countries that are home to gorilla populations come together to discuss ways of protecting this endangered great ape. The conference attracted a wide range of groups involved with the endangered gorillas from government departments through to law enforcement agencies, NGO’s and international experts.
Gorillas are threatened by a wide range of dangers. From habitat encroachment through to bushmeat and the wildlife trade. The meeting in Kigali was the first ever meeting that dealt specifically with the threats of the illegal wildlife trade. The conference looked at the conservation measures in place to protect the four sub-species of gorilla found in Africa and ways in which enforcement action could be undertaken to prevent further losses of individuals to the bushmeat and wildlife trade.
Gorillas are worth more alive in the forest than dead on a butcher’s slab or suffering in a cage.
Tackling the trade in gorillas
CMS (Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals) Executive Secretary Elizabeth Maruma Mrema said: “Joint efforts to apply wildlife law are important because gorillas play a key role in the ecology of Africa’s forests. Their loss has an impact on the health of the whole ecosystem and, by extension, on everyone who lives in or benefits from these forests.”
INTERPOL has offered its global network of national offices to help combat wildlife crime relating to gorilla and other endangered species.
“A global response is required against environmental and wildlife crime, and in this endeavor it is important for all countries to work through a multi-disciplinary approach that also uses INTERPOL’s established National Central Bureau network and its Environmental Crime Programme to communicate intelligence and to provide support in capacity building efforts,” said Bernd Rossbach, the Director of INTERPOL’s Specialized Crime Unit.
Multinational action required to protect gorillas
The conference confirmed that multi-national co-operation was the best way forward in tackling the trade in gorillas both for bushmeat and also for live gorillas. One of the most successful multi-national projects was highlighted as being a role model for other actions.
The trinational mountain gorilla project in Virunga between Uganda, DR Congo and Rwanda has led to a 25% increase in gorilla numbers since 2003 with the mountain gorilla population in Virunga level now standing at 480 individuals. By working together the countries have developed a green tourism industry around the gorillas that has led to the growth in gorilla numbers, protection of the rain forest habitat and raised millions of dollars for both the local and national economies.
The UN are hoping that a similar multi-national project can be put in place to help conserve the critically endangered Cross River gorillas of Cameroon and Nigeria. Fewer than 300 of the gorillas remain and are in urgent need of a successful conservation model.
Law enforcement required to conserve gorillas
Continued enforcement of wildlife law is an essential part in conserving gorilla numbers and the conference noted the ongoing success of tackling gorilla poachers. Earlier this year the largest ever gorilla seizures were made during a raid in Gabon. Gabonese police seized 13 gorilla heads and 32 hands of gorillas and chimpanzees. The 5 smugglers are currently awaiting trial in Gabon. The investigation was partly funded by CMS and received help from the international wildlife NGO Conservation Justice.
The conference confirmed that international efforts and co-operation started in 2009 is the best way forward to tackling the poaching threats to gorillas.
The Rwandan Minister of Environment and Lands, Stanislas Kimanzi, said: “The meeting has sent a clear message to all those involved in gorilla poaching and illegal trade: wildlife traffickers will be arrested in the ten countries covered by the CMS Agreement. Gorillas are worth more alive in the forest than dead on a butcher’s slab or suffering in a cage.”
Gorilla poaching is big business
Tackling the growing problem of trading in gorillas is not going to be easy. There is a lot of money at stake and it can be a very profitable business for the smugglers and wildlife traders. The current market price of a baby gorilla in the pet trade is £40,000. In some countries the risks of being caught is negligible. If caught then the opportunity to evade punishment through bribery is common. While many of the 10 African countries with gorillas are committed to protecting the species not all are pro-active in enforcement and prosecution.
As international and national law enforcement agencies and NGO’s become more effective at discovering wildlife smuggling routes so clear patterns are beginning to emerge. much of the gorilla smuggling appears to be confined to two major routes, through Cameroon and Nigeria or through Kenya and then Sudan. The major exit point from Africa to the markets of Asia is increasing being tied down to either Alexandria or Sharm El Sheik in Egypt.
One of the leading NGO’s involved in tackling the trade in gorillas is the Last Great Ape Organization (LAGA) of Cameroon. LAGA works closely with the Cameroon authorities in tackling wildlife trading in the country. Despite it’s investigators being kidnapped and threatened their undercover investigations has led to a series of prosecutions of major wildlife smugglers. There work has gained them a place on the delegation that represents Cameroon on the Convention on Trade in Endangered Species (CITIES).
International customs co-ordination against gorilla trading
The World Customs Organization is also playing a pro-active part in tackling the international trade in gorillas and other great apes. Between 24th January and 6th February this year an internationally coordinated operation took place under GAPIN (Great Apes and Integrity) which saw 25 customs services around the world take coordinated action. During the 2 weeks of the operation over 100 seizures were made of more than 30 species.
Project GAPIN is funded by the Swedish government and aims to equip the customs services of 14 African countries with the skills and technology to meet their requirements of the CITES agreements. GAPIN has a particular aim of tackling the trade in great apes such as gorillas and chimps.
At the debriefing session in South Africa at the beginning of March 2011 the customs organisation expressed the hope that they will be able to undertake similar coordinated actions over the long-term.
