Two arrested with four gorilla skulls

Arrested for trafficking in gorilla skulls

Two men aged 60 and 29 were arrested on December 8, 2015 at a check point in Doume in the East Region for illegal possession of 4 gorilla skulls and an elephant tail. The operation was carried by wildlife officials of the Doume Forestry and Wildlife Control Post with support from the gendarmerie and with technical assistance from The Last Great Ape Organisation (LAGA).

                The two who were riding a bike were stopped at the check point and gendarmes who were manning the control post inquired about the contents of the bags they held so securely. . One of them claimed the bags contain his personal belongings including his traditional healing gadgets. Wildlife officials requested for the bags to be handed over for  the content to be examined and when the bags were emptied,  four ape skulls rolled out on to the tarmac. One of the skulls was painted red as it would later be revealed that skulls are painted either for decoration as Chinese like them painted or for use in traditional healing practices or for pure mysticism. The two were quickly arrested and taken in for questioning.

                 It should be noted that the operationt was not just as accidental as it seemed. It came after diligent investigation in Doume had identified the two as the main traffickers located in the town. At the moment of their arrest, they were being tracked by an investigation team. This had been going on for some time and  it was discovered that one of the traffickers was operating from his home.

                During interrogations, it was revealed that they usually buy wildlife products at the site of a logging company located close to Dimako. Logging companies have in the recent past been under fire for their role in decimating protected wildlife species. Logging company workers are accused of killing protected wildlife for food while the companies seem to turn a blind eye to this illegality. These companies equally cut open pristine forests, creating inroads which poachers follow to shot species which were not accessible before the roads were created. The presence of ape skulls where logging companies are located may just corroborate these accusations.