Mr Adekambi Adeyinka, a master’s student from the Department of Forestry and Wildlife, University of Calabar (UNICAL) has captured stunning footage of the world’s rarest great ape, the Cross River Gorillas in the Afi Wildlife Sanctuary.
This was disclosed by Adeyinka in an interview with journalists on Wednesday, 19th June 2024, in Calabar while reacting to the need to protect the rare apes on the list of endangered species due to human activities.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the extraordinary sightings marked the first successful photos since three graduate students at UNICAL began studying this elusive subspecies in 2023 as part of the Cross River Gorilla initiative.
According to him, the sighting was more than just a visual success but underscored the importance of community involvement and innovative research in conservation.
“By working closely with local communities, we are not only gathering crucial data but also fostering a deeper understanding and commitment to protecting these incredible great apes and their habitat,” he said.
On his part, Dr Joseph Onoja, Director-General of the Nigeria Conservation Foundation (NCF) said they were hopeful that the initiative would contribute to the realisation of their strategic pillar of saving species in peril.
Speaking further, Onoja noted that in 2022, a Five-Year Community Conservation Graduate Student Scholarship Programme for the Conservation of Cross River Gorillas was commenced in UNICAL.
He said the initiative was funded by the Wilder Institute – Calgary Zoo and implemented by NCF in partnership with the Centre for Biodiversity Conservation Research (CBCR), Ghana.
“The programme involves supporting graduate research projects in Nigeria, including scholarships for one PhD student and four master’s students in UNICAL, over a period of five years.
“This collaborative initiative extends beyond borders to allow an exchange programme for knowledge sharing that creates successful community conservation initiatives,” he said.
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Similarly, Prof. Francis Bisong, Secretary, Cross River Gorilla Conservation Project Committee, said Adeyinka’s result was promising as it demonstrated the power of collaboration to save the severely endangered Cross River gorillas.
Bisong said the capture of two silverback gorillas on trail cameras in the Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary emphasises the need for innovative technology, collaborative and community engagement to safeguard this fragile species and its environment.
“These findings highlight the sanctuary’s vital role in gorilla protection and the need for more research and collaboration to conserve Cross River Gorillas and the region’s rich biodiversity.
“I urge the scientific community, conservation organisations, and stakeholders at all levels to support and extend this essential effort to protect one of the world’s rarest and most fragile species,” he maintained.
Dr Mary Liao, Conservation Manager, Wilder Institute said, while she might not have encountered one Cross River Gorilla face-to-face, the images captured by the camera traps were an incredible glimpse into the life of the elusive and magnificent creatures. (NAN)