Three years after being rescued from wildlife traffickers, a young gorilla named Bili has entered a new chapter of her life. Her journey from Nigeria to the Republic of the Congo marks a major step in her rehabilitation, following an international operation involving conservation groups, government agencies and specialist transport partners.
But reaching her new home does not mean Bili is ready to live in the wild. Her recovery still depends on veterinary assessments, social development and several stages of rehabilitation, with conservationists carefully evaluating whether she can eventually join a gorilla reintroduction programme.
Bili Was Rescued From Wildlife Traffickers in Nigeria
Bili, a young female western lowland gorilla, was rescued in August 2023 after Nigerian authorities intercepted her during an operation targeting illegal wildlife trafficking in Lagos.
The rescue involved the Nigeria Customs Service Special Wildlife Office and Focused Conservation, a nonprofit organisation that works with law-enforcement authorities on wildlife-trafficking investigations. After receiving information about an attempted wildlife transaction, investigators conducted an undercover operation that resulted in Bili’s seizure and the arrest of two men.
Focused Conservation later reported that Lamin Magaji Muhammad and Ibrahim Haruna Muhammad were convicted in Nigeria in 2025 of conspiracy, unlawful possession and attempted sale of a gorilla.
A Federal High Court in Lagos sentenced both men to 12 months’ imprisonment on each count, with the sentences running concurrently, and imposed financial penalties. The court also ordered Bili forfeited to the Nigerian government.
Following her rescue, Bili was placed in the care of the Pandrillus Foundation at Drill Ranch in Calabar, Cross River State, where she received veterinary treatment and rehabilitation.
Her condition highlighted the challenges facing young animals rescued from traffickers. Reporting on her rehabilitation indicated that she was unwell and had a fungal infection when she arrived at the sanctuary.
Primatologist Lindsay Maess, who cared for Bili at Drill Ranch, told CNN that more than 80% of trafficked gorillas do not survive, reflecting the serious risks faced by infant gorillas separated from their mothers and natural environments.
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Three Years at Drill Ranch Helped Prepare Bili for Her Next Chapter
Bili spent approximately three years at the Nigerian sanctuary recovering and adjusting to her new surroundings. Her rehabilitation involved more than physical treatment: she also needed opportunities to develop social and behavioural skills.
During her time at Drill Ranch, Bili shared an enclosure with two rescued chimpanzees, Brendan and Mili. According to Maess, their presence helped the young gorilla become more comfortable and socially engaged after the traumatic circumstances of her rescue.
Preparing Bili for international transport also required careful planning. Pandrillus spent weeks helping her become accustomed to confinement again so that the journey could be completed as safely as possible.
The transfer required veterinary supervision, specialised animal transport, customs procedures, wildlife-trade documentation and coordination between authorities and conservation organisations in Nigeria and the Republic of the Congo.
DNA testing identified Bili’s country of origin
A significant development came when DNA testing established Bili’s geographic origin. The Nigeria Customs Service said the results confirmed that she originated from the Republic of the Congo, helping establish the basis for her repatriation.
The Jane Goodall Institute said Nigeria’s Ministry of Environment issued CITES permits associated with the DNA testing and Bili’s subsequent re-export to Congo.
Western lowland gorillas are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Gorillas are listed in Appendix I, the convention’s highest level of protection, which places strict controls on international trade and movement involving the species.
Bili’s Journey From Nigeria to the Republic of the Congo
Bili’s relocation involved several stages across three days, requiring coordination between transport specialists, veterinarians and wildlife authorities.
| Date | Journey details |
| September 21, 2026 | Bili left Pandrillus Foundation’s Drill Ranch in Calabar and travelled approximately 22 hours by road to Lagos. |
| September 22, 2026 | She boarded a DHL cargo flight from Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos to Pointe-Noire, with a stop in Libreville, Gabon. |
| September 23, 2026 | Bili arrived in Pointe-Noire and was transported by road to the Tchimpounga Rehabilitation Center. |
The Jane Goodall Institute said the operation involved DHL Express, the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria’s Ministry of Environment and Department of Forestry, the Ministry of Forest Economy of the Republic of the Congo, Focused Conservation, Pandrillus, the Jane Goodall Institute, The Aspinall Foundation and the Royal Foundation’s United for Wildlife, among other operational and regulatory partners.
DHL served as the logistics partner for the air transfer. Bili travelled in a purpose-built crate supplied by Pandrillus that met applicable live-animal transportation requirements.
The organisations completed the necessary export and import permits, CITES documentation, veterinary health certification, International Air Transport Association (IATA) requirements and customs procedures before the journey.
She was accompanied by Dr. Rebeca Atencia, Executive Director and Head Veterinarian of the Jane Goodall Institute Republic of Congo, and Imelda Effiong, who had been her caregiver at Pandrillus for three years.
The Nigeria Customs Service described the transfer as its first international full-cycle wildlife operation, covering interception, rescue, rehabilitation and the safe return of a trafficked animal.
Bili Begins a New Rehabilitation Stage at Tchimpounga
Following her arrival, Bili was taken to the Jane Goodall Institute’s Tchimpounga Rehabilitation Center near Pointe-Noire, where she is receiving specialist care.
Although the facility is best known for its work with rescued chimpanzees, it also cares for other African wildlife. The Jane Goodall Institute said Tchimpounga looks after more than 150 chimpanzees, another gorilla and other animals affected by injury, orphaning and the illegal wildlife trade.
The centre provides a new environment for Bili’s physical, behavioural and social development.
Dr. Rebeca Atencia told CNN that Bili had settled in well after the transfer.
“Bili has adjusted very well,” Atencia told CNN. “She has shown herself to be a very resilient young gorilla.”
Her initial stay includes a 40-day quarantine period and health checks. This stage is important before she can be introduced to another gorilla and begin the next phase of her social rehabilitation.
Bili Could Be Introduced to Another Young Gorilla
If Bili completes quarantine successfully and receives the necessary health clearance, she is expected to be introduced to Mozambique, a younger female gorilla already living at Tchimpounga.
The planned introduction would give Bili an opportunity to develop social and behavioural skills alongside another member of her species. Conservationists will also be able to assess how she responds to the interaction and whether she is ready to progress towards the next stage of rehabilitation.
However, the plan remains conditional. Bili has not been promised a release into the wild, and her eventual outcome will depend on her health, behaviour, social development and ability to adapt.
If her progress continues successfully, she could eventually be transferred with Mozambique to the Lesio-Louna Gorilla Reserve in the Republic of the Congo.
The protected area covers approximately 173,000 hectares and is part of a long-running gorilla rehabilitation and reintroduction programme implemented by the Ministry of Forest Economy of the Republic of the Congo and The Aspinall Foundation.
The Jane Goodall Institute said the long-term intention is for Bili to be integrated into that programme.
Tony King of The Aspinall Foundation highlighted the reserve’s history of rehabilitating orphaned gorillas.
“Over the past three decades the Lesio-Louna has demonstrated that orphan gorillas like Bili can be successfully rehabilitated and released, with wide-ranging benefits for wildlife, ecosystems, and people,” King said.
Even with that history, Bili still has several stages of rehabilitation ahead of her before a move to the reserve or a potential release could occur.
Bili’s Rescue Highlights the Cost of Wildlife Trafficking
Bili’s case illustrates why rescuing an animal from an illegal wildlife transaction is only the beginning of a much longer process.
Young gorillas rescued from trafficking can require years of specialist care, including veterinary treatment, carefully managed diets, appropriate social contact and secure facilities. Conservationists must also determine whether an animal can eventually adapt to a more natural environment.
Pandrillus cared for Bili for three years after her rescue. The organisation has highlighted the financial burden placed on sanctuaries that accept animals seized during trafficking investigations.
Zack Schwenneker, a project manager at Drill Ranch, said caring for an infant gorilla for three years can cost thousands of dollars in milk alone.
The challenge is particularly serious when rescue centres are already operating near capacity. CNN reported that Pandrillus cares for nearly 700 animals, while former Pandrillus primatologist Lindsay Maess said Nigerian rescue centres were operating at maximum capacity.
The continued arrival of trafficked wildlife therefore places pressure on law-enforcement agencies and the sanctuaries responsible for keeping rescued animals alive and supporting their recovery.
Nigeria’s wider wildlife-enforcement efforts
Bili’s rescue also sits within a broader international wildlife-trafficking problem. The frequently cited estimate of approximately $20 billion refers to the annual value of wildlife crime as a whole, not the gorilla trade specifically. Wildlife crime encompasses the illegal trafficking of numerous species and wildlife products worldwide.
Great apes are particularly vulnerable because young animals can be targeted for the illegal exotic-pet trade. Conservation and law-enforcement officials have also warned that online platforms and social media can make it easier for traffickers and buyers to advertise or locate illegally traded wildlife.
Nigeria established its Special Wildlife Office in 2021 and has worked with Focused Conservation on trafficking investigations. According to figures released by the Nigeria Customs Service, 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 reported seizures during that period included 220 kilograms of pangolin scales, 48 elephant tusks and 219.05 kilograms of worked ivory, alongside numerous live protected animals.
These figures cover wildlife-enforcement activity across Nigeria and are not specific to gorillas or Bili’s case. They nevertheless provide context for the enforcement efforts surrounding her rescue and rehabilitation.
Conclusion: Bili’s Return to the Wild Remains a Possibility
Bili’s journey from a wildlife-trafficking seizure in Nigeria to specialist care in the Republic of the Congo marks an important milestone after three years of rehabilitation. DNA testing helped establish her country of origin, while an international partnership made her transfer to Tchimpounga possible.
Her next steps include quarantine, health assessments and a possible introduction to another young gorilla. If she progresses successfully, she could eventually enter the Lesio-Louna rehabilitation and reintroduction programme.
For now, the distinction matters: Bili has been repatriated and has begun a new stage of rehabilitation, but she has not been returned to the wild.
Atencia told CNN:
“The hope is that, in time, this group will have the opportunity to progress through the rehabilitation and reintroduction process and ultimately return to a life in the wild,” Atencia told CNN.
That outcome remains a future possibility, not an accomplished fact. Bili’s progress will depend on continued specialist care and careful assessments, with each stage bringing conservationists closer to understanding what her future may hold.
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Source and Research Disclaimer
This article has been prepared based on research using the sources provided, including statements and reporting from the Jane Goodall Institute, the News Agency of Nigeria, Focused Conservation, STAT Times and CNN. It reflects the information available in those materials and preserves the distinction between confirmed events and potential future plans. The article does not imply independent verification beyond the information supported by the cited sources.
Sources
- Jane Goodall Institute: Safe transfer of rescued gorilla Bili to the Republic of the Congo
- News Agency of Nigeria: Nigeria Customs information
- Focused Conservation: Nigerian court conviction in Bili’s case
- STAT Times: DHL’s gorilla relocation operation
- CNN Brasil: Report on Bili’s rehabilitation and relocation
Featured Image Credit: Jiří Mikoláš / Pexels
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