Report finds 6,000 African primates traded internationally
A new report by the Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA), released on 7 January 2026, finds that more than 6,000 African primates were traded internationally across 50 countries between 2000 and 2023, with endangered chimpanzees and critically endangered western gorillas among the most traded species. The analysis covers legal trade for zoos and research and illegal trafficking for pets and trophies, highlighting conservation risks and potential impacts on Africa’s primate tourism offer.
Drawing on CITES records, TRAFFIC seizure data and published sources, PASA identified 183 seizure incidents from 2020 to 2023, with chimpanzees making up 37% and mandrills also prominent. A chimpanzee case study logged 418 CITES transactions – 138 live and 182 wild‑sourced – with Gabon and Uganda leading exports and Germany, the US and Denmark leading imports; several records warrant further scrutiny and figures are likely underestimates. At the recent CITES summit, parties agreed to re‑establish the Great Apes Enforcement Task Force – a move with implications for compliance, reputational risk and responsible wildlife experiences in key destinations.
Source: News Mongabay
