An Illegally Purchased Chimpanzee from Malta Found by the Carabinieri in Italy

Carabinieri from the CITES Unit in Catania, supported by the Cassibile (SR) station and veterinary staff from the Siracusa health authority, have uncovered a serious case of wildlife trafficking involving a Maltese citizen residing in Italy. During a search of the man’s private home, officers discovered that he was illegally keeping a chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes), a species classified as dangerous to public safety and highly endangered under CITES regulations.

Kept on a Chain in Distressingly Inhumane Conditions

The chimpanzee, estimated to be around 3.5 years old, was found in conditions veterinarians deemed completely incompatible with its nature. It had been restrained with a chain approximately two metres long, forcing it into unnatural and repetitive behaviours. The chain also caused a severe injury near its groin, highlighting the level of mistreatment involved.

The owner claimed that the chimpanzee had been brought from Malta after being purchased on the black market. The case illustrates how the illicit trade in wild species—including those threatened with extinction—continues to thrive. Many such animals are taken from the wild by unscrupulous poachers to supply collectors or individuals who wish to keep primates as pets, without considering their inherent danger or the public health risks linked to potential zoonotic diseases.

Young animals are especially targeted, often violently separated from their mothers in their natural habitat, causing further devastation to already dwindling wild populations.

Seized, Treated, and Transferred to a Specialised Facility

The chimpanzee was immediately seized on charges of mistreatment and illegal possession of a protected and dangerous species. It was transported to the Veterinary Hospital of the University of Messina for initial treatment. Later, with the support of the Operational Department of the Carabinieri CITES Group in Rome, it was transferred to the Bioparco in Rome, an authorised facility capable of housing such species.

There, a team of expert ethologists will begin a lengthy rehabilitation process in hopes of eventually integrating the young chimpanzee into a social group of its own species. However, due to the unnatural behaviours imposed on it during captivity, it is improbable that the animal will ever be able to return to life in the wild.

Protected Parrot Also Found

During the search, the Carabinieri also found an Eclectus parrot (Eclectus roratus) without the necessary CITES documentation.

The Carabinieri urge the public not to purchase wild animals of questionable origin, as these purchases fuel criminal poaching networks and contribute significantly to the decline of endangered species, with severe consequences for global biodiversity.