African Art Expo Facing 25k Fine Over Monkey Skull

Organisers of an African art exhibition in Germany could face a EUR 25,000 fine over this sculpture that includes a protected monkey skull.

Customs officials in the German port city of Hamburg confiscated the statue from a collection of exotic artefacts destined for the exhibition.

Credit: CEN/ Zollamt Hamburg
The monkey skull in the sculpture confiscated by customs in Hamburg

The goods had been sent to Hamburg, a major port city in northern Germany, from Cameroon in central Africa back in January.

The package contained 3,145 pieces of art including masks and statues made of wood and metal which were also often adorned with horns and animal bones.

Officials however were particularly interested in the statue measuring 50 centimetres in height where a six centimetre skull could be seen worked into the body.

A customs official said: “The Hamburg Centre for Natural History confirmed it was a monkey’s skull.

“International trade of protected species has become a lucrative business.”

The statue did not have the correct paperwork or licenses and as the primates are protected by a multilateral treaty to protect endangered species the importer, who was not specified, could face a fine of up to EUR 25,000.

Roughly 5,000 species of animals and 29,000 species of plants are protected by CITES against over-exploitation through international trade.


Story By: Kathryn Quinn, Sub-Editor: Michael Leidig, Agency: Central European News


The Ananova page is created by and dedicated to professional, independent freelance journalists. It is a place for us to showcase our work. When our news is sold to our media partners, we will include the link here.

GET THE NEW STORIE ON TIME!!!!

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

Signup to our Newsletter