A new investigation by Mongabay has revealed that the illegal trade in gorilla and chimpanzee body parts in northeastern Nigeria is far more widespread than previously believed, posing a major threat to some of the world’s rarest great apes.
Journalist Orji Sunday spoke directly with hunters, traffickers, and buyers to uncover just how far the trade extends—and how deeply embedded it is in local tradition and desperation.
According to Mongabay, the trade is most devastating for the critically endangered Cross River gorilla (Gorilla gorilla diehli), a subspecies found only in remote forests on the Nigeria-Cameroon border.
With fewer than 300 individuals left in the wild, even one death is catastrophic. Official estimates suggest three Cross River gorillas are killed each year, but local hunters claim the number is likely higher. Shockingly, some report killing gorillas in Taraba state—an area where the species isn’t even known to live—raising fears that other gorilla populations may be moving into the region or going undetected.
Former hunter Benjamin Dauda shared his experience, explaining how financial hardship led him to kill a gorilla in 1997. He described the emotional trauma that followed, saying, “It was exactly like a human being… I was shivering.” Though Dauda later gave up hunting, the market continues to thrive.
In southeast Nigeria’s Ose market, one trader told Mongabay that it’s easy to find 50 to 100 ape heads for sale at a time. While some healers are turning to animal alternatives like goat or cow parts, high prices are still fuelling demand for wild apes—pushing these species ever closer to extinction.
It doesn’t have to be this way. Supporting plant-based living, speaking out against wildlife trafficking, and donating to Conservation groups are powerful steps we can all take. These incredible animals deserve forests, not markets.
This article by Nicholas Vincent was first published by One Green Planet on 4 April 2025. Lead Image: Image Credit :catalincastravet/Shutterstock.
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