The Nigerian government has launched an urgent diplomatic effort to retrieve a baby gorilla intercepted at Istanbul Airport, Turkey, on 22 December 2024, in what authorities describe as a brazen act of illegal wildlife trafficking.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Turkish authorities discovered the endangered primate during a routine inspection, preventing its illicit transfer to Bangkok, Thailand. The incident has raised serious concerns about Nigeria’s role as a transit point for the lucrative global black market in wildlife trade.
Government officials have vowed to expose and prosecute those behind the smuggling attempt, with key agencies—including the Federal Ministry of Environment and the Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Service—launching a full-scale investigation. The baby gorilla, classified as critically endangered under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), falls under strict international protection, making its trafficking a grave offence.
In a move to tighten enforcement, the Nigerian government has announced plans to bolster surveillance at airports, seaports, and land borders to curb further breaches. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Embassy in Ankara has been directed to maintain high-level engagement with Turkish authorities to expedite the gorilla’s return.
The case highlights Nigeria’s ongoing battle against wildlife crime, which has drawn increasing scrutiny from conservationists and international watchdogs. Officials insist the country remains committed to biodiversity conservation and has vowed to impose severe penalties on perpetrators of illicit wildlife trade, as pressure mounts to dismantle trafficking networks operating within its borders.
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