French Customs Seize 400 Primate Skulls Bound for US in Alarming Trafficking Operation

Customs officials at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris seized nearly 400 primate skulls, mostly from Cameroon, over a seven-month period in 2022. The skulls were destined for recipients in the United States, likely collectors and hunting clubs, where they are given as gifts or prizes. The illegal trade in protected species, including primates and other animals, generates billions of euros annually. The seized skulls will be evaluated by the Museum of Natural History in Aix-en-Provence. Wildlife experts express concern over the decimation of endangered biodiversity and call for stronger conservation efforts.