In the mountains of Cameroon, the worldÕs rarest gorilla can now find sanctuary in a newly created reserve. At about 7.5 square miles (almost 20 square kilometers), the Kagwene Gorilla Sanctuary contains about 20 of the nearly 300 remaining Cross River gorillas.
The rest of the gorillas are scattered across multiple sites in Cameroon and Nigeria. Although small, the new reserve contains a genetically important segment of the population.
ÒHopefully, this and other sanctuaries like it will give us time to protect and learn more about the worldÕs rarest great ape,Ó said James Deutsch, Director of the Wildlife Conservation SocietyÕs Africa Program.
Cross River gorillas, which are related to the more well-known lowland and mountain gorillas, are classified as critically endangered by the World Conservation UnionÕs (IUCN) Red List.
While many populations are threatened by poachers, the gorillas of Kagwene have been protected by the local belief that the apes are people and therefore cannot be hunted or consumed. Elsewhere, gorillas are threatened by hunting and habitat loss.
Some former hunters and other residents from local communities staff the sanctuary. A field station also accommodates guards, who will be posted by the government to monitor and protect the sanctuary.