Blogging About Critters Since 2007

Sunday, July 29, 2007

Hand Over Your Chimps!

Sierra Leone is cracking down on citizens who are keeping chimpanzees as pets.

On national radio, wildlife authorities also said the chimps should be turned over to rangers rather than sold and warned that failure to comply with the new measures would mean a stiff penalty of 1,000 dollars (730 euros).

"Chimpanzees must not be kept as pets or sold. Buyers locally or internationally are strictly warned not to engage in the trade," the statement said.

Conservationists say the primates are slowly becoming an endangered species in war-scarred Sierra Leone due to the depletion of forests and illegal hunting.

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