Nigerian Baby Gorilla Rescued in Turkey After Smuggling Attempt to Thailand

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A Nigerian baby gorilla has been rescued by Turkish customs officials after an attempted wildlife smuggling operation bound for Thailand was intercepted in Istanbul. The endangered primate, hidden in a poorly ventilated box, was discovered during a routine cargo inspection and is now set to be repatriated to Nigeria under international wildlife protection protocols.

Authorities say the gorilla’s condition highlights the brutal reality of the illegal wildlife trade in Nigeria, where traffickers exploit porous borders to export endangered species in inhumane conditions.

Nigeria has increasingly been identified as a major hub for wildlife trafficking in Africa, serving as both a source and a transit point for species including gorillas, parrots, pangolins, and ivory. According to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), Nigerian ports are central to Africa-to-Asia trafficking routes, fueling a multi-billion-dollar black market.

In recent years, seizures in Lagos have exposed the scale of the crisis, including over 23 tonnes of pangolin scales in 2021, along with ivory tusks and rare birds destined for Asia. Conservationists warn that the same criminal networks are behind the smuggling of primates like the rescued gorilla.

“Cases like this are not isolated,” said Dr. Amina Yusuf, director of Wildlife Watch Nigeria. “They are part of a pattern of organized crime that destroys biodiversity and threatens global security. Nigeria must step up enforcement before species like gorillas disappear forever.”

The Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) welcomed the interception but cautioned that gorillas remain critically endangered, with fewer than 100,000 left in the wild. “Every rescue matter, but for every gorilla saved, many more vanish into trafficking networks undetected,” said WWF spokesperson Jean-Claude Mbele.

The baby gorilla will soon be flown back to Nigeria and placed in a wildlife sanctuary for rehabilitation, while conservation groups are urging authorities to prosecute those responsible for the smuggling attempt.

The case has sparked outrage across social media, with Nigerians praising Turkish officials for their vigilance while demanding tougher measures at home to combat wildlife smuggling from Nigeria.