Wildlife experts and government officials from South Africa and Cameroon wrapped up talks on Friday on the future of four rare gorillas claimed by both countries.
The Western Lowland gorillas were smuggled out of Nigeria through South Africa and to Malaysia’s Taiping Zoo about three years ago. Upon discovery of the illegal shipment, the Malaysian government sent them back to South Africa where they were quarantined at Pretoria Zoo in April 2004.
The Cameroon government, backed by some international wildlife groups, has campaigned for the return of the great apes. But South African officials have said there is no proof they came from Cameroon rather than Nigeria.
South African Environmental Affairs and Tourism Ministry spokesperson JP Louw said that DNA tests were currently being conducted in West Germany and Britain to determine the origin of the gorillas, nicknamed the Taiping Four.
”We will see exactly where they come from and reach the right decision,” Louw said.
The International Fund for Animal Welfare said that the results of the DNA testing would likely pinpoint the region but not the precise country.
”The DNA tests will prove nothing apart from the fact that the gorillas do not come from South Africa,” said fund spokesperson Christina Pretorius.
”It’s just delaying tactics,” she said.
”The fact is that sending the animals back to Cameroon would send a strong message that trading in wild animals is not OK,” Pretorius said.
Gorillas are listed as at risk of extinction under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) and it is unlawful to kill, capture or export them.
Experts believe that fewer than 100 000 gorillas remain in the wild in West Africa. Cites obliges its members to return illegally confiscated endangered animals to their natural habitat of origin.
The South African government wanted Cites to be involved in any final decision, Louw said.
The four gorillas, captured in the wild, were sent from Nigeria under the guise of being born in captivity. The Nigerian zookeepers reportedly told investigators that the animals had been caught and brought to the zoo from Cameroon.
Environmentalists say the gorillas should be returned to Cameroon’s Limbe Wildlife Centre, which has a record of successfully caring for orphan gorillas.
Cameroon officially requested the return of the gorillas in June. This week’s discussions marked the first time officials from the two countries had met.
Members of the Cameroon delegation did not return phone calls. But prior to departure from Cameroon, delegation spokesperson Mary Fosi said she was confident that the South Africans would ”respect the provisions of Cites and give us a strong word that will guarantee the return of these animals back home”.
There has been speculation that South Africa would try to negotiate to keep the four apes in Pretoria in exchange for environmental conservation assistance and research in Cameroon.
Pretoria Zoo director Willie Labuschagne maintains that the apes are legally in South Africa and that Cites protocols dictate that when animals were confiscated in a certain country, in this case Malaysia, that country had the right to choose where the animals could be sent to reside. – Sapa-AP