World Gorilla Day: Nigeria's only 100 gorillas face extinction
WildAid, an environmental NGO, says Nigeria's surviving Cross River gorillas are at risk of extinction.
This is contained in a statement by Kelechukwu Iruoma, WildAid's representative in Nigeria, on Saturday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that September 24 is World Gorilla Day.
This is an annual event celebrating gorillas and empowering global communities to take action for gorilla conservation.
WildAid said the Cross River gorilla, which lives in the mountainous border region of Nigeria and Cameroon, is Africa's most endangered ape, with an estimated population of less than 300 individuals.
He said that about 100 live in Nigeria and are only found in three protected areas in Cross River State: Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary, Mbe Mountains and Okwangwo Division of the National Park. Cross River.
“Over the past two decades, illegal activities such as bushmeat hunting, logging, settlement expansion and agricultural encroachment have continued to destroy their habitats and threaten the survival of the rare Cross River gorilla.
"Traps intended for other animals such as bushmeat often trap Cross River gorillas, injuring or killing great apes," WildAid said.
The statement quotes Simon Denyer, head of WildAid's Africa program, as saying that humans have pushed Cross River gorillas to the brink of extinction.
"The few individuals that remain are scattered in small groups over rugged terrain, and any death or further loss of habitat would threaten their very survival."
“It is extremely important to protect their remaining sanctuary and protect this important part of the natural heritage of Nigeria and Cameroon,” Denyer added.
WildAid has declared the Cross River Gorilla to be listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List as Critically Endangered.
ALSO READ: Cross River Gorillas on the brink of extinction, only 100 left - Group"The global population of gorillas stands at around 1,063, found in countries such as Nigeria, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, which is home to more than 50% of the world's population. world population of gorillas.
"Gorillas are a major draw for Uganda's tourism industry, which contributed 7.75% of its GDP and 6.7% of total national employment in 2018, according to research by the Africa Platform nature-based tourism.
"While Uganda earns millions of dollars a year from gorilla tourism and therefore garners more conservation efforts, Nigeria's gorillas face extremely serious threats," the statement read.
p>The environmental NGO says it is not too late to save Nigeria's remaining 100 Cross River gorillas.
He added that everyone must act now to protect them.
"Individuals and communities must be enlightened and sensitized on the need to protect our gorillas.
"We urge the Nigerian government to also update its wildlife laws to address the threats facing our iconic gorillas."
“WildAid is also calling on all Nigerians to say no to illegal bushmeat in order to alleviate some of these pressures on gorillas and other important species being trapped and killed in bushmeat traps "said WildAid.< /p> Support the integrity and credibility journalism of PREMIUM TIMES Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can guarantee the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy and a transparent government. For free and continued access to the best investigative journalism in the country, we ask that you consider providing modest support to this noble endeavour. By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you help sustain relevant journalism and keep it free and accessible to everyone.
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WildAid, an environmental NGO, says Nigeria's surviving Cross River gorillas are at risk of extinction.
This is contained in a statement by Kelechukwu Iruoma, WildAid's representative in Nigeria, on Saturday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that September 24 is World Gorilla Day.
This is an annual event celebrating gorillas and empowering global communities to take action for gorilla conservation.
WildAid said the Cross River gorilla, which lives in the mountainous border region of Nigeria and Cameroon, is Africa's most endangered ape, with an estimated population of less than 300 individuals.
He said that about 100 live in Nigeria and are only found in three protected areas in Cross River State: Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary, Mbe Mountains and Okwangwo Division of the National Park. Cross River.
“Over the past two decades, illegal activities such as bushmeat hunting, logging, settlement expansion and agricultural encroachment have continued to destroy their habitats and threaten the survival of the rare Cross River gorilla.
"Traps intended for other animals such as bushmeat often trap Cross River gorillas, injuring or killing great apes," WildAid said.
The statement quotes Simon Denyer, head of WildAid's Africa program, as saying that humans have pushed Cross River gorillas to the brink of extinction.
"The few individuals that remain are scattered in small groups over rugged terrain, and any death or further loss of habitat would threaten their very survival."
“It is extremely important to protect their remaining sanctuary and protect this important part of the natural heritage of Nigeria and Cameroon,” Denyer added.
WildAid has declared the Cross River Gorilla to be listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List as Critically Endangered.
ALSO READ: Cross River Gorillas on the brink of extinction, only 100 left - Group"The global population of gorillas stands at around 1,063, found in countries such as Nigeria, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, which is home to more than 50% of the world's population. world population of gorillas.
"Gorillas are a major draw for Uganda's tourism industry, which contributed 7.75% of its GDP and 6.7% of total national employment in 2018, according to research by the Africa Platform nature-based tourism.
"While Uganda earns millions of dollars a year from gorilla tourism and therefore garners more conservation efforts, Nigeria's gorillas face extremely serious threats," the statement read.
p>The environmental NGO says it is not too late to save Nigeria's remaining 100 Cross River gorillas.
He added that everyone must act now to protect them.
"Individuals and communities must be enlightened and sensitized on the need to protect our gorillas.
"We urge the Nigerian government to also update its wildlife laws to address the threats facing our iconic gorillas."
“WildAid is also calling on all Nigerians to say no to illegal bushmeat in order to alleviate some of these pressures on gorillas and other important species being trapped and killed in bushmeat traps "said WildAid.< /p> Support the integrity and credibility journalism of PREMIUM TIMES Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can guarantee the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy and a transparent government. For free and continued access to the best investigative journalism in the country, we ask that you consider providing modest support to this noble endeavour. By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you help sustain relevant journalism and keep it free and accessible to everyone.
Donate
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