Qatar authorities arrest man trying to sell baby chimp

His arrest led Qatar's ministry of municipality and environment to warn its citizens yet again to abstain from keeping exotic animals as pets.

The man, who was caught by an environmental protection control team while attempting to trade the chimpanzee, has been referred to state authorities, where he will face a penalty.

A picture of the baby chimpanzee published on the ministry's site on Wednesday shows the animal sitting in a car, dressed in baby clothing.

The chimpanzee was handed over to a local zoo, the ministry reported.

The incident comes days after a tiger was spotted roaming along a busy highway in Qatar's capital, Doha.

A video of the big cat wandering around vehicles on the Doha Expressway went viral during the week.

Unlike other Gulf States, where owning wild animals is fairly common, Qatari law prohibits residents from keeping dangerous animals as pets.

However, there has been an increase in the number of wild animals trafficked or spotted in public spaces, a source at the ministry said.

Those caught with illicit fauna face imprisonment up to six months and fines ranging from 1,000 to 10,000 Qatari Riyals [$275 to $2750].

Nobody puts baby-chimp in the corner [Qatar Ministry of Municipality and Environment]