Gabonese authorities have arrested five people deal with illegal animal parts, which includes leaders of 12 gorillas and chimpanzees to the protection, wildlife conservation group.
"This is the first 13 counts of monkeys have been confiscated," Luke Mathot, president of Conservation Justice said Friday. In collaboration with the leaders, both hands of thugs and 30 from chimpanzees were seized.
In addition, 12 leopard skins, a lion's skin in part, snake skins, ivory and 5 tails were confiscated.
Mathot said he was present when the animal parts have been posted on the police station in Libreville on January 14, days after the raid.
The five suspects - a woman of four Benin and Nigeria, men - were arrested Jan. 13 in the Gabonese capital, Libreville, and were charged with wildlife crimes for the treatment of illegal animal parts, according to Mathot. They face up to six months in prison if convicted, according to Mathot.
Other African countries such as Cameroon and Congo have stiffer penalties for traffic - up to five years.
Their next hearing is Jan. 25.
The Gabonese authorities have worked with Aalf - a conservation organization established by the courts to combat trafficking in protected species in Central Africa - in the operation.
"WWF commends the Department of Water and Forests and aalf this significant arrest," David Greer, a manager of great apes for World Wildlife Fund said Wednesday in a statement. "But the massive collection of protected species captured in this is very worrying. "
"Putting these dealers behind bars may have a direct impact on the lives of hundreds of chimpanzees and gorillas," says Mathot.