Kathmandu, September 17

Two years after an international wildlife trade racket was busted, Kathmandu District court has finally handed down jail sentences to five of the 20 accused for smuggling two infant chimpanzees, which were named Chimpu and Champa later.

Police had on 18 October 2017 rescued two chimpanzees, eight monkeys, seven golden pheasants, two ringneck pheasants, 38 pigeons and 65 parrots that were smuggled into Kathmandu through Tribhuvan International Airport.

Six smugglers were arrested in connection with the case. Police had arrested two Nepali citizens, three Indians and a Pakistani national involved in the smuggling of the exotic animals from a forest in Nigeria.

The animals were to reach India via Kathmandu. Police had later arrested additional 15 persons following an investigation, and filed a case in the court in December 2017 against all 20 accused.

A single bench of Justice Pushparaj Thapaliya yesterday slapped five years’ jail term on the three Indian nationals Mohammad Usman, 36, Mohammad Faim, 37, and Mohammad Sherif Shaheed, 37, along with one Pakistani national Jawaid Aslam Khan, 57.

Sanjeev Bhari, 42, of Bara district was ordered two-and-a-half years jail time for providing room to hide the smuggled animals.

The court has acquitted other 15 accused. After rescue, the chimpanzees were kept at the country’s Central Zoo at Jawalakhel. The infant chimpanzees, which were less than an year old, were half of their body weight and had pneumonia during their rescue, according to zoo officials.

The court is yet to decide if Chimpu and Champa will stay in Nepal or will be sent back to Nigeria.

The rare and endangered infants were smuggled via Turkey to Nepal from Nigeria.