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By Akpan David, Calabar
The Wildlife Conservative Society (WCS) and Cross River State government have signed a 10-year Memorandum of Understanding to protect the remaining Cross River gorillas.
Due to past hunting it is estimated that only 100 Cross River gorillas are now remaining. It is also estimated that there are additional 200 found in neighboring Cameroon. As a result, Cross River gorillas are classified as ‘critically endangered’ which means that they are on the very edge of extinction.
The MoU which the Ministry of International Development Cooperation signed on behalf of the state government is essentially to enable ‘Collaboration and Mutual Support for the Management and Protection of Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary and the Mbe Mountains’.
Dr Inyang Asibong, Commissioner of the Ministry of International Development Cooperation, represented the Governor of Cross River State, Senator Prof. Ben Ayade, at the signing ceremony, while director of landscape, Dr Inaoyom Oyom signed on behalf of WCS.
Dr Asibong remarked that “the continuous protection, maintenance and rehabilitation of wildlife and their sanctuaries is a top priority for Cross River State”.
She went on to say that “we must do everything possible to preserve our remaining wildlife as it has unquantifiable benefits for mankind”.
Imong explained the importance of Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary and the Mbe Mountains.
He stated that: “Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary and the Mbe Mountains in Boki LGA are internationally recognised biodiversity hotspots, supporting important populations of endangered species such as the Cross River gorilla and Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee”.
Country Director of WCS, Andrew Dunn, also spoke: “Cross River State is the most important site for biodiversity in the country.
“We at WCS are proud to partner the State Government to help save the flagship sites of Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary and the Mbe Mountains and their endangered wildlife”.
Dunn added that the main threats to the survival of Cross River gorillas are hunting and habitat destruction due to farming and logging.
