Outrage Over Bayelsa Chimpanzee Pepper Soup

Environmentalists have raised outrage after pictures of hunters bragging of their slaughter of chimpanzees in the Edumanom Forest Reserve, in the Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State came online.

On Facebook, images of hunters bragging about shooting and selling chimps to curious villagers who later used them for pepper soup were particularly striking to the environmentalists.

Recently, one Facebook user, Ebiowei posted pictures of “Chimpanzee meat pepper soup” that he swallowed with yoghurt.

“Gunned down by a hunter in the forest today at Nembe, Bayelsa state. A tasty supper, ” he wrote in the post’s caption.

Environmentalists responded to the situation by sounding the alarm and expressing concern that if the federal and state governments don’t do more to safeguard the endangered animals, they would wind up being eaten or hunted to extinction.

Morris Alagoa, the project officer for Environmental Right Actions (ERA) Niger Delta Resource Centre, also in Bayelsa State, lamented the hunting of chimpanzees in the Edumanom Forest Reserve in a chat with the Nigerian Tribune.

He added that it appears that neither the state nor the federal authorities was taking the matter seriously or taking appropriate action.

“I am aware that killing such critically endangered animal species in our environment is against the law. Unfortunately, it appears that neither the state nor the federal authorities are taking this matter seriously or taking appropriate action. Furthermore, it is inconceivable that such an incident is taking place in a government-recognized, reserved forest that is also gazetted, the man added.

“The civil society hasn’t given this sector much attention. Sadly, our country’s administration did not promote civil society. Do we have to keep relying on foreigners, even for our own welfare? The government must consult with the state’s traditional leaders in order to successfully safeguard and preserve these animals for future generations.

He continued, “Forest Guards should be appropriately employed and provided with sufficient training on how to protect government-reserved woods.”

When asked for a response, well-known traveler and special assistant to the governor for tourism, Mr. Priye Kiyaramo, said: “It is terrible that the chimpanzees’ future in Bayelsa State’s Edonamon National Park still remains in risk. Sometimes young chimpanzees are kidnapped alive, which is a problem, he said of the use of the animal as pepper soup in Bayelsa State.

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