A few days ago, a team of conservationists in the Mbe Mountains in Nigeria photographed a group of gorillas from the Cross River. This gorilla subspecies has been thought to be extinct, but photos show that it is not. It is considered the rarest primate on the planet.
For some time now, the extinction of some animals or endangered species has been topical news. However, it is unusual for there to be news of a species that is considered extinct and discovered to be extinct. The hope grows that nature always recovers.
The photographs show several copies, among which are little boys
Photos taken by conservationists show that the species has survived and has several offspring. The cameras were installed in strategic locations and paid off a few weeks ago. The pictures show different scenes of the primates of this subspecies.
In the past, around 300 specimens of Cross River Gorillas were known in the mountain regions of Nigeria and Cameroon. However, no news of new sightings has been received for some time, so it has been assumed that the subspecies has become extinct.
Scientists want to distance this gorilla from the danger of extinction
In May, the spy cameras received some photos that sparked the enthusiasm of the primatologists. A few days later, new cameras were given color photos to confirm the news.
The scientific community has very little information about the customs of this subspecies. It is particularly interesting to know about their reproduction to protect gorillas from the Cross River from the danger of extinction. For this reason, it was very exciting to see numerous young specimens and small puppies in the photos.
However, the population of these primates in the location where the cameras were installed is unknown. In 2012, 50 spy cameras were installed in both the Mbe Mountains and the Gorilla Sanctuary of Kagwene (Cameroon) and the Mount Afi Sanctuary (Nigeria).
Although photos of mountain gorillas were taken, none of the Cross River subspecies have been preserved. They are very difficult to photograph, so it was a great pleasure to see so many young specimens in family groups.
Steps are taken to protect gorillas from the Cross River
The protection of this rediscovered subspecies has become a priority in the scientific community. To this end, nine local communities have partnered with the Wildlife Conservation Society and the Mbe Mountains Conservation Association. This alliance has paid off for decades, reporting that there have been no gorilla deaths in Nigeria since 1990.
The forest in the Mbe Mountains has more than a third of the Nigerian population, which is counterproductive when caring for gorillas. The latter are very suspicious of the presence of people. They demonstrate this through their droppings, the location of their nests and the traces they leave.
However, the area in which the photos were taken is not included in the protected area. In the interest of the community in the survival of these primates, we try to protect them. The aim is to extend the boundaries of the protected area to the area in which the recently discovered gorillas are located.
