World's most endangered gorillas spotted with babies in Biafra's forest July 12, 2020 | EASTERN PILOT In a rare sighting, c...
World's most endangered gorillas spotted with babies in Biafra's forest
July 12, 2020 | EASTERN PILOT
In a rare sighting, conservationists have captured new images of the world's rarest gorillas with several babies in Biafra land.
The Cross River gorillas were spotted in the dense Mbe Mountains in Cross River state by a camera set up by the Wildlife Conservation Society.NEWS: We've just released the first-known camera trap shots of Cross River gorillas with a group of babies. It's a promising sign for the world's rarest gorilla: https://t.co/Hms6bV7pBn @WCS_Nigeria pic.twitter.com/Q36zhK0rQr— WCS (@TheWCS) July 8, 2020
The subspecies is critically endangered and at one point only about 300 were known to be alive within the mountainous area in Nigeria and Cameroon, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.Cross River gorillas were once presumed extinct in Nigeria and only “rediscovered” in the late 1980s. These new images are "an encouraging indication that these gorillas are now well protected & reproducing successfully," said Inaoyom Imong, Director of @WCS_Nigeria CR Landscape. pic.twitter.com/VB6psUa1M4— WCS (@TheWCS) July 8, 2020
The gorillas tend to avoid humans and their few populations have been the target of hunters in the past. Images of the gorillas were also captured in 2012 in Cameroon's Kagwene Gorilla Sanctuary.
The latest sighting is proof that Cross River gorillas are "well protected and reproducing," after decades of being targeted by hunters, Inaoyom Imong, director of Cross River Landscape for Wildlife Conservation Society Nigeria said in a statement.Cross River gorillas are rarely seen or photographed. Extremely shy of humans, they live in most rugged & inaccessible parts of their range. In total, there are only about 300 individuals found in an isolated region along the Nigeria/Cameroon border. https://t.co/u3lLQ8rLHI pic.twitter.com/BssO9MkoQg— WCS (@TheWCS) July 8, 2020
The society said it has been working with several communities to ensure the gorillas' protection and since 2012, no deaths of the subspecies have been recorded or reported in Nigeria.
Gabriel Ocha, head chief of Kanyang, one of the villages near the Mbe Mountains, said the images are proof that his community's conservation efforts with the WCS are yielding results.This success is largely due to support and commitment of local community partners.— WCS (@TheWCS) July 8, 2020
"I am very happy," said Otu Gabriel Ocha, head chief of nearby village. "Shows that our conservation efforts in partnership with @WCS_Nigeria are yielding fruits."
More: https://t.co/Hms6bV7pBn pic.twitter.com/mVhGZj7NMz
"I am very happy to see these wonderful pictures of the Cross River gorillas with many babies in our forest," Ocha said in a statement.
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