Toto the Baby Gorilla, International Wildlife Laws, and My Experience
Smuggling of endangered wildlife such as apes has long been a reality, yet authorities can never seem to prevent its illegal trade despite international legislation.
Recently there has been media coverage regarding the illegal importation and smuggling of baby chimpanzees, which took me back forty years when I worked at Heathrow Airport where similar issues would arise. It is so disappointing and frustrating to realize that authorities cannot solve such issues after decades of being exploited by illicit pet trades of chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans as pets.
On 31 August 1979 while fulfilling my duties as an animal health inspector at London Heathrow Airport and patrolling cargo sheds, I was approached by cargo staff with concerns regarding a crate containing an animal they identified as being “monkey-like”.
I was astounded to discover this was actually an endangered lowland gorilla baby wearing a woollen jumper who had been accepted for transport without consideration to its welfare. She was only 10- 12 weeks old and needed regular feeds of mother’s milk as well as companionship; I cannot express how angry I was at that point!
Her presence caused an international incident, so I took immediate action under animal welfare and transport laws to seize her, immediately taking her to what was then called Heathrow Animal Quarantine Station (AQS) for further examination by a vet. When her crate was opened she immediately leapt out, screaming into someone’s arms as soon as it opened up!
Her name was Toto and she had been sent from Cameroon via an unscrupulous animal dealer in Vienna and onward to Japan, on an arduous and long journey. I immediately informed our contacts in Customs who agreed to seize her under Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), which prohibits trade in endangered species ratified by the UK in 1976. Additionally, I informed every major conservation organisation and national press, all of whom provided detailed coverage.
” I sometimes wish Toto had come with me on her run, as my confidence that her presence would cause permanent seizure was misguided; her presence caused a diplomatic incident while we attempted to treat her at AQS where enthusiastic foster mum attendants kept watch over her 24/7; all of which caused us to remain confused over her fate and my decision as the authorities bicker over how best to approach Toto’s fate.
After several discussions between ourselves and UK officials regarding her possible detention by UK law, and after convincing officials and airline that she should return to Vienna due to being too young for Japan alone without adult supervision, officials and the airline agreed to return her despite our protests and that of all parties involved. I managed to delay her departure by insisting on having a specially constructed crate for any additional movement required by them for any subsequent movement – at this point my first instinct was just wanting to grab her up myself and run with her! Looking back now though I wish I’d done just that instead.
At first sight, Toto and I fell deeply in love; I wish that she would have come with me on her journey.
As much as we had only had Toto for one week, her departure was emotionally devastating for all involved and so unjust. When Toto went back to Vienna where her dealer sent her back directly to Japan via another route avoiding Heathrow; on arrival there, Toto was so weak a veterinarian had to be called immediately upon her arrival in Japan.
Unfortunately, I encountered illegal or smuggled animal importation through airports more often. There were multiple incidents involving baby chimps as well as monkeys and endangered reptiles/birds being illegally shipped through airports; no official seemed concerned or believed they had the authority to intervene then; unfortunately nothing has changed significantly today.
My experience of international wildlife regulations since 1979 was never positive, which has greatly dimmed my faith in their effectiveness. Unfortunately, when applied in practice they fall far short. Although such incidents at Heathrow may now be rarer, I know illicit traders still find ways of operating with some countries aiding or abetting them through money – paperwork often being waived aside when money changes hands; back then she was worth PS7,000 while now the price tag could easily reach $300,000.