Born Free Foundation - Keep Wildlife in the Wild

The illegal ‘bushmeat’ trade threatens the very existence of the planet’s last great apes.

Entire families of gorillas and chimps are being hunted, killed and eaten on a daily basis, their traumatised babies sold as exotic pets.  Born Free investigates, exposes and campaigns against the illegal trade in apes. 

Chimps, gorillas, monkeys and other wildlife are killed for the luxury, international commercial bushmeat trade, while their body parts are used to make traditional ‘fetishes’ and tourist ‘curios’.  ‘Bushmeat’ used to have a low impact, but the trade has escalated due to increased use of guns and the opening up of forest access routes by logging companies.  

Plus there is a flourishing trade in great apes as exotic pets.  To capture a wild baby gorilla or chimp, its mother and other relatives are killed.  The traumatised orphans are often malnourished, vulnerable to disease and suffer abuse and isolation.