A four-star hotel in Africa has allegedly been caught offering smoked baby chimpanzee on its à la carte menu.
The dish - bébé chimpanzé fumé - was reportedly being served for £27 at The Beatrice Hotel, in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
However, the business is now facing criminal proceedings after an animal conservation charity Conserv Congo expressed its horror.
Adams Cassinga, charity group director, claimed the hotel was serving smoked chimpanzee to appeal to its growing Asian clientele and wealthy local diners looking for a potent dish, reports The Times.
He added: "People believe you can consume the spirit of an animal through its flesh and carry it around to make you appear more powerful.
"It is popular with politicians, policemen and curious foreigners.”
Conserv Congo has made a formal complaint against the hotel, alleging it has traded in a protected species.
Management initially denied that it was offering chimp on its menu.
But hotel owner André Kadima later admitted that it had been included without his knowledge.
However, he denied that the animal was ever being cooked at the establishment and said it was a printing error.
He told The Times: “I was away when it was printed and when I got back I immediately ordered that it be destroyed and reprinted.
"We don’t sell cooked chimpanzees. I love chimpanzees and know how valuable they are to our wildlife.”
The DRC is a thriving metropolis of ecological activity and one of the most important countries in Africa for biodiversity conservation.
Chimps are protected by law and anyone found to be killing and trading the animal faces up to ten years in prison and a maximum fine of £15,000.
