The gorillas, believed to have been captured in the wild and smuggled out of Nigeria, would be sent to Pretoria "as soon as possible," Environment Minister Law Hieng Ding was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times.

The Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which prohibits trade in endangered species caught in the wild, approved the move, he said.

"The Pretoria Zoo has the best means to care for the gorillas, which may not be able to survive if they return to the wild."

The controversy had tarnished the country's image as a signatory to CITES, Law said.

Investigations showed that "some parties had deliberately misled" him into signing the import permit for the animals, which contained a false declaration that the purchase was approved by CITES, he said.

"The permit was signed by me as minister. It was a false declaration which means I have also been cheated."

Investigations revealed that Taiping Zoo in northern Perak state was aware the animals were illegally sourced and were not obtained from a captive breeding centre as claimed, he said, adding that the zoo knew the export permit purportedly issued by the Nigerian authorities had been forged.

TERRA.WIRE