Communities in Boki and Akamkpa Local Government Areas of Cross River State have said that stray gorillas and elephants are posing risk to them and their means of livelihood.
They also expressed concern that the animals were beginning to pose threat to the lives of people in the communities, especially older women and children.
Members of the communities expressed their concerns during a workshop on Watershed Protection for Safe and Sustainable Water Supply in Calabar yesterday.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the workshop was sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development and Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS).
A community leader in Boki, Mr Obeten Erasmus 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 destruction.
“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, WCS Director, Cross River Landscape, Dr Inaoyom Imong 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 has been rising, urging the government to take measures to protect the animals.
“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”, he said.
