Cross river-gorilla
The critically endangered Cross river gorilla lives in Nigeria, including in the Afi Mountain and Mbe Mountains areas. It is threatened by environmental destruction, illegal hunting and war – just like several other gorilla species.
The Kolmården Foundation has supported the conservation project since 2004. Within
the framework of the project now patrols park guards, so-called Eco-guards, to
monitor the population of gorillas and discourage illegal hunting. The parks collect
loads of data about the gorillas, as well as removing the poachers' snares and
camp sites. In 2023, 571 snares were removed – and no gorillas were killed
in the Afi area during the year.
The park rangers educate and inform
Hunting gorillas is a source of income in these areas, even though it is illegal. That's why the park rangers teach about alternative ways of making a living, such as through beekeeping.
It is also important to inform people living in the area about the gorilla's situation. This is done in the local schools, where they talk about the importance of conservation with the help of radio, film, posters and info-brochures. Within the framework of the project, school trips and exchange visits between schools' "conservation associations" also take place, and hundreds of unemployed young people are involved in forest conservation measures.
The highly endangered Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee also lives in the area protected under the same project.