World's Rarest Gorillas Were Sighted With Babies In Nigeria's Forest

Jul 14, 2020 by apost team

One of the world's rarest gorilla subspecies, threatened with going extinct was recently spotted in Southern Nigeria. Earlier this month, conservationists had the rare opportunity to capture images of a Cross River gorilla in the company of her offspring as she expanded her family.

Thanks to a camera set up by The Wildlife Conservation Society, the world can take a deep breath after capturing this exciting news. According to the BBC, the rare Cross River gorillas were captured in the huge Mbe Mountains in Cross River State.

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These gorilla subspecies have been classified as a threatened species after statistics showed that there were only about 300 of them known to be in existence. According to reports released by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, they were mostly spotted in the dense mountains located in Cameroon and Nigeria.

The WCS officials confirmed these reports via Twitter. At the same time, Otu Gabriel Ocha thanked the local community and dedicated conservationists for their support and commitment to preserving these endangered gorilla subspecies.

You’ve probably not come across these gorillas due to their tendency to avoid human interactions. They also exist in small populations that make them vulnerable to being on hunters' hit lists. However, one sanctuary in Cameroon, The Kagwene Gorilla Sanctuary, recorded the endangered gorillas' existence in 2012. The sanctuary was lucky to bring a few under its roof.

The recently released footage of the endangered gorilla's expanding family is living proof that the Cross River gorillas have more years on earth. Director Inaoyom Imong of Cross River Landscape for Wildlife Conservation Society Nigeria reassured the locals in a press release saying that the gorillas were well protected while in the wild, and reproducing to keep their species going.

The organization stated that they have been working with multiple local communities to make sure that the rare gorilla species are protected. The initiative has been alive since 2012 having a remarkable record with zero deaths in Nigeria.

The head chief of Kanyang, Gabriel Ocha, who leads one of the villages located near the Mbe Mountains in Nigeria, stated that thanks to his people’s efforts in conjunction with the WCS, the gorillas can enjoy freedom and continuity. The images released are full proof that his community’s efforts have yielded some good results. Ocha concluded his statement by saying, "I am very happy to see these wonderful pictures of the Cross River gorillas with many babies in our forest."

The video attached to this piece is living proof that the Cross River gorillas are here to stay! Feel free to send it to your friends and family, especially if they are nature enthusiasts.