Plight of the bush-meat babies

Abstract

Orphaned primates have become part of an illegal and lucrative trade, which has recently come under the spotlight. Whilst the problem is not unusual in other African countries, it seems particularly acute in Cameroon, a country which still harbours a viable population of wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and contains about 80% of the remaining habitat of the endangered drill (Mandrillus leucohaeus). Financial support has recently enabled the first primate sanctuary in Cameroon to be established.