A statement signed by Mr Festus Iyorah, Nigeria’s Representative for Wild Africa, said that the Cross River Gorilla is one of the rarest and most endangered great ape species on Earth.
The statement was made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Lagos.
Referencing the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, Iyorah noted that fewer than 300 Cross River gorillas remained globally.
He said that about 100 of the gorillas are living in Nigeria across three protected landscapes in Cross River State: Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary, the Mbe Mountains and the Okwangwo Division of Cross River National Park.
“These gorillas are part of our national heritage. We must act now to protect each and every one of Nigeria’s last Cross River gorillas.
“Protecting them is not only about conservation, but about securing our ecological legacy and ensuring future generations inherit a thriving natural environment,” Iyorah said.
He said that the Cross River gorilla population, once believed extinct after Nigeria’s civil war in the 1960s and rediscovered in the 1980s, faced persistent threats.
The NGO representative said some of the persistent threats included poaching, illegal bushmeat trade, and habitat loss from agricultural expansion and human encroachment.
According to him, wire snares set for bushmeat, often injured or killed gorillas and remain a particularly severe challenge.
He said that beyond their intrinsic value, gorillas play a vital ecological role adding that their feeding and nesting habits aided seed dispersal and forest regeneration, thus helping to sustain biodiversity.
Iyorah stressed that, as umbrella species, their protection ensured the survival of countless other endangered wildlife sharing the same fragile ecosystem.
Wild Africa further emphasised the potential of sustainable gorilla-based ecotourism to drive economic opportunities for local communities, generate foreign exchange and foster pride in Nigeria’s unique biodiversity.
On the policy front, Wild Africa urged the Federal Government to accelerate the passage of the Endangered Species Conservation and Protection Bill 2024, which recently scaled third reading in the House of Representatives.
The NGO noted that once enacted into law, the legislation would strengthen enforcement against wildlife crime and reinforce habitat protection.
“This is no longer just a conservation goal – it is a national responsibility.
“Protecting Cross River gorillas require collaboration from government, local communities, and every Nigerian.
“Together, we can ensure these remarkable primates do not vanish from our forests,” Iyorah added.
