LIMBE, CAMEROON AFRICA, NOVEMBER 2010  (NEWS.CAMEROON-TODAY.COM)  -  The “new Gorillas” from Cameroon which are fast nearing extinction are reaching a stage where they are in an urgent need to be protected.

Cameroon Gorillas are an endangered specie Cross – River Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla diehli)

An environment protection organization based out of the country of Cameroon Africa is campaigning for setting up a brand new national park at Cross River very close to the Nigerian border which will be exclusively for the protection of a not so popular sub species of gorillas whose only known habitat is this particular area.

The Cross River Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla diehli) is probably one of the unknown sub species of gorilla which are moving double fast into the extinct category of animals. These gorillas currently thrive on either sides of Cameroon Nigeria border and there are only 250 more numbers of them living today.

Presently ERUDEF environment conservation and wildlife protection group based out of Cameroon are working really hard with the sincere hope that the only known habitat of this gorilla which has very less visibility globally be converted to a full fledged National Park that will house just this fast decreasing species of gorillas.

The Fossimondi region close to Cross River where the gorillas live has been a relatively untouched territory which can boast of a pretty huge biodiversity. The members of ERUDEF however seem to be of a strong opinion that measures need to be taken immediately to protect these virgin locales from further exploration. Detailed explorations conducted by a team from ERUDEF has revealed that the region has a very rare blend of the flora and fauna of West and Central tropical Africa , turning it into a unique paradise owing to the huge variety of endemic species who live here . Talk about the best of both worlds- you will find it here.

Cross River Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla diehli)

The group has already set pace to a “bio-monitoring” project of the monkeys in the less explored Bechati-Fossimondi-Besali forest area, including the endemic gorillas and forest chimpanzees. The project has already been able to decipher a particular behavior pattern that is exclusive to the local chimpanzees, wherein they seemed to have totally adopted the ground nesting habits of their neighbors the gorillas.

ERUDEF researchers insist that their researches of the Fossimondi region forests are still very much in the preliminary stages, although they have already been able to find out many features and characteristics that are exclusive to that particular eco system only. The environmentalists are certain that the research will bring to light many more endemic species which the world is still not aware of and are apprehensive about the beauty and the rich wildlife being destroyed by poachers, loggers and illegal encroachments further endangering the wildlife in the region.

The environmentalists claim that the research is being undertaken with the sincere hope that the finding of the studies may have the scope to obtain all encompassing protection of the forest area at the Nigerian border, and hence the efforts to make the area more familiar.

Earlier this year, ERUDEF had with a lot of effort managed to convince ‘CNN’, one of the biggest names in the broadcasting sector in the US. ‘CNN’ sent a whole team complete with cameras and equipment into the forest region to create a short film about “the rarest gorillas in the world.” However sad to say the team could not even capture a single gorilla in their film in their short stint at the jungles.

However the environmentalists don’t seem to be in the least disillusioned. They are still trying their very best to find new people from various parts of the world who will partner with them and collaborate to promote their cause for conservation of the jungle with its diverse flora and fauna on a world wide basis. In the weeks to come a collaboration of nature scientists from Czechoslovakia will join the team from ERUDEF to deploy the “Diehli Initiative” –which is synonymous with the Latin name of the gorilla sub-species – an initiative that is focused solely towards protecting the only known habitat of the unique great apes from extinction and shrinkage.

To ensure that the drive gets more global visibility and public coverage the gorilla and ape keeper of the Prague Zoo, Marek Zdansky, is also expected to pioneer an expedition to the Fossimondi forests, later this month together with an expert documentary film maker who is also apparently a Czech national. The Czech expedition’s is intended to obtain “financial, media and scientific support of current activities of ERUDEF.”

The environmentalists are right now in a relatively long and patient wait for obtaining a license from the state which will be directed to protection of the forest areas in close proximity of the Cross River which is the living area of the great apes. The protection from the state will go a long way towards preventing illegal encroachments or poaching which could result in further extinction of the species.

Meanwhile till the protection from the state is secured the onus is on the environmentalists to secure the apes from poachers. The cause which is very close to the heart of these researchers from ERUDEF is encouraging them to do a great task in this area wherein they have been able to talk to poachers who used to be after these apes to reform and change themselves into “eco-guards” to protect the great apes.

The environmentalists from Cameroon through repeated attempts have somehow managed to convince the ex- poachers about how valuable these sub-species who are nearing extinction are, and have made them understand that they were probably the only people who have been fortunate enough to view these rare species of gorillas in such close proximity and probably would ever be and it was their responsibility to save these animals and protect them so that the world could also see these rare yet impressive creatures who have a character of their own.

With a renewed vigor and breath of energy that they have secured form the brand new perspective and sense of pride that they have got about the environment that they live in all thanks to the enthusiastic efforts of the environmentalists from ERUDEF, the new eco-guards now try to protect their ecosystem and prevent others from harming the flora and fauna in the Fossimondi forests thereby saving it for the world to see.

This is not just an isolated case. There re many such ecosystems in the forest lands of Africa which have been left totally untouched carrying a rich flora and fauna that the world is not aware of and many more such animals who near extinction only because the people who poach or try to harm them are not aware about how important they are.

The above report should be an eye opener to not just the governments who need to do much more I protecting the forests and the wild life it contains that comes within their boundaries and under their jurisdiction but to the whole world . It is only global visibility and funding from international agencies that can fuel research in such areas so that these rich biodiversity does not stay hidden forever and so that the world can also benefit from the awareness and the beauty of such rare creatures and ecosystems.