A rare gorilla has once again been sighted in a remote mountainous community along the Nigeria–Cameroon border in Cross River State.
The primate was captured on a camera trap installed as part of ongoing wildlife monitoring efforts in the region. The sighting follows a similar occurrence months ago, when elephants were reported to have ravaged farmlands in Boki Local Government Area of the state.
Dr Inayom Imong, a renowned wildlife conservationist, confirmed the development via his social media platform, noting that the gorilla was detected by forest surveillance cameras within the transboundary community.
He explained that the Cross River gorilla is the most critically endangered of the four recognised gorilla subspecies, with its population limited to a narrow range in the rugged headwaters of the Cross River.
“These gorillas are extremely elusive and rarely seen in the wild,” Imong stated. “Most of the evidence of their continued existence is derived from the nests they construct each night and the data retrieved from camera traps.”
According to him, the species faces a multitude of threats, including habitat loss due to deforestation, forest fragmentation, and sporadic hunting activities.
“Current estimates suggest that fewer than 300 individuals remain in the wild across this transboundary landscape,” he added.
Conservationists have reiterated the urgent need for sustained protection measures and community involvement to safeguard the future of the Cross River gorilla.
