The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has repatriated a rescued female baby gorilla, Bili, from Lagos to the Republic of Congo, marking the Service’s first full-cycle international wildlife operation.
The operation, conducted between September 22 and 28, 2026, was coordinated by the Customs Special Wildlife Office (SWO) under the Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU). It covered the interception, rescue, rehabilitation and international repatriation of the endangered animal to the Réserve Naturelle de Tchimpounga in Pointe-Noire, Congo.
Bili was rescued by Customs officers in August 2023 during an enforcement operation against wildlife trafficking and was subsequently placed under the care of the Pandrillus Foundation in Calabar for rehabilitation.
Following a DNA test that confirmed Bili’s origin as the Republic of Congo, arrangements were made for her repatriation from Calabar to Lagos and onward transportation to Congo. DHL provided the air transportation at no cost, while a caregiver and veterinary doctor accompanied the gorilla throughout the journey.
The repatriation was carried out in accordance with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), with support from the CITES Management Authority under the Federal Ministry of Environment. Gorillas are listed under Appendix I of CITES, which provides the highest level of protection for species threatened with extinction.
The Customs Service said Bili’s return demonstrates Nigeria’s commitment to international wildlife protection obligations and strengthened cooperation in combating illegal wildlife trafficking.
The development comes amid intensified enforcement by the NCS against the illegal wildlife trade. Between January and September 2026, the Special Wildlife Office and Customs Area Commands recorded 22 wildlife seizures, rescued 699 live animals and arrested 11 suspects.
The seizures included 220 kilogrammes of pangolin scales, 48 elephant tusks and 219.05 kilogrammes of worked ivory, alongside several live endangered and protected species intercepted across different parts of the country.
According to the Service, enforcement operations were recorded in Ogun, Kano, Borno/Yobe, Calabar, Taraba, Kaduna and Lagos, among other locations. The interventions included the rescue of pangolins, primates, lion cubs, hyenas, crowned cranes, tortoises, gorillas and chimpanzees.
The Service also reported the interception of 440 African mud turtles and 90 ostrich chicks in September, with several arrests linked to wildlife trafficking.
The NCS, under the leadership of Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, acknowledged the support of the Pandrillus Foundation, DHL, Focused Conservation, the Aspinall Wildlife Trust, the CITES Desk of the Federal Ministry of Environment and the Government of the Republic of Congo.
The Service reiterated that its mandate extends beyond revenue collection to include national security and environmental protection, while urging members of the public to report suspected cases of illegal wildlife trade to the nearest Customs formation.
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