DRC moves against trafficking of Bonobo monkeys

The authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are on a war footing against persons guilty of offenses relating to the exploitation of Bonobos (Pygmy Chimpanzee).

The objective is to protect the species from danger.

According to the Global Agency for the protection of Nature, the Congolese police had in April put an end to the trafficking of Bonobos.

These species of great apes are mostly found only in the DRC forests.

According to the Congolese law, “any person found guilty of having killed , wounded, captured or in possession of these animal , is liable to a prison sentence ranging from one to ten years and a fine of 5 million to 10 million Congolese francs.”

According to the Worldwide Fund for Nature, the trafficking of live animals amounted to 15 billion euros per year.

In 1980, Bonobos were estimated at 100,000 and now, the monkeys would not be more than 20,000 because of poaching for bush meat.
A situation which is explained in particular by the demographic expansion of the countries and the level of poverty in the community.

According to the journal Nature, Bonobos have a genetic heritage identical to 98.7% to that of man.

A considerable level of illegal wildlife trade exist between the capital of DRC, Kinshasa and Brazzaville, as they are just across the river from one another.

Republic of Congo was one of the signatories to the Kinshasa declaration on September 2005, as was DRC, home of the Bonobos and host of the meeting.