U.S. based groups move to save C’River gorillas, donate N4M equipment

In a bid to save Africa’s most threatened apes, the Cross River gorillas, some United States (U.S.) based donors have donated field equipment worth over N4 million and 10 motorcycles to the National Parks Service (NPS).

The groups, which donated the equipment and money are, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) with funds from the Arcus Foundation, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund and the Rainforest Trust.

The move is aimed at helping to support ranger patrols in the Okwangwo Division of Cross River National Park.

A statement issued yesterday by the Country Director of WCS, Nigeria Programme, Andrew Dunn noted, “The equipment also include tents, rucksacks sleeping mats and rain ponchos to allow rangers to camp inside the national park for up to one week and conduct long-distance foot patrols essential for the protection of the endangered species.

“Three specialised camera-traps were also donated to the National Park Service and WCS is planning to provide specialised training in the use of camera traps in April this year.”

The statement added that due to past hunting, it was estimated that only 300 Cross River gorillas survive in the mountains between Nigeria and Cameroon and the most important site for Cross River gorillas in Nigeria was the Okwangwo Division of the Cross River National Park.

Conservator-General of the NPS, Dr. Ibrahim Goni, commended the WCS for the donation but urged more support for other parks in the country.

Dunn expressed hope that the field equipment would be put to good use adding that additional equipment for the Oban Division of the Cross River National Park would be provided later in the year.

“The most threatened of all African apes, the Cross River gorilla is listed as critically endangered based on its small population size, their fragmented distribution across a large complex landscape and ongoing threats to their survival from habitat loss and poaching.

“About 100 Cross River gorillas are found in Nigeria (with an additional 200 in Cameroon).  In Nigeria, Cross River gorillas are restricted to Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary, the Mbe Mountains and the Okwangwo Division of Cross River National Park.

“The largest and most important of the three sites is the Okwangwo Division of Cross River National Park, managed by the NPS,” the statement added.