Home » Africa: We shall take revenge on the gorrillas and elephants if they keep destroying our Farmlands- Cross River villages to Experts

Africa: We shall take revenge on the gorrillas and elephants if they keep destroying our Farmlands- Cross River villages to Experts

by Atqnews
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Concerns has been raised by communities in Boki and Akamkpa Local Government Areas of Cross River as stray gorillas and elephants are starting to pose a threat to the lives of people in the communities and their means of livelihood. This was made known by members of the communities during a workshop on Watershed Protection for Safe and Sustainable Water Supply, on Friday in Calabar.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop was sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development and Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). Mr Obeten Erasmus, a community leader in Boki, said though the animals were sometimes friendly, they still pose huge risks to the inhabitants. He warned that the community members may be forced to retaliate if the animals continue with their destructions.

READ: Tourism: Finally, Pictures of first-known group of African lowland gorillas released from Cross River, Nigeria

“They have destroyed some of our farmlands leaving our entire efforts in ruins, if not checked, the people would start taking revenge on them. “it is becoming regular for gorillas to leave their habitat in the Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary in Boki and saunter into nearby communities in search of food and could not trace their way back,” he said.

Addressing the issue, Dr Inaoyom Imong, WSC Director, Cross River Landscape, appealed to the communities not to retaliate. “Don’t kill the animals. Elephants and gorillas are facing extinction going by their few numbers. No one will be happy to see these animals killed as they are under protection,” Imong said. He however said the population of gorillas and elephants in the area have been rising, and urged government to take measures to protect the animals.

READ: Africa: Gorilla ‘swallows’ N6.8 million in Kano zoo

“It is the government that ought to ensure that the National Parks in the state which are gazzetted as protected areas, are held as such. “But we find that humans traversing these territories for economic trees and fruits such as bush mangoes, Afang leaves, cocoa, have left these places porous, which is the reason the animals stray out. “To minimise incessant infiltration into the National Parks, we are providing alternative economic means, trainings and empowerments for forest communities,

“We also support them in the area of beekeeping and livestock, as ways to dissuade them,” he said. Imong added that the interface with stakeholders was to reduce illegal logging in the state, because conservation required communities to have a change of behaviour towards nature.

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