Ade AdesinaCross River Gorilla

I chose to stand beside the Cross River Gorilla because they are one of the rarest and most awe-inspiring beings on our planet. With fewer than 300 left in the wild, every single one of them carries the weight of their entire species. They live in the dense forests along the Nigeria-Cameroon border, navigating steep mountains and thick vegetation where few humans could survive. What makes them awesome is their quiet strength and deep intelligence. Like us, they live in family groups, care for one another, and communicate with gestures, sounds, and expressions that show just how connected they are. A day in their life can be full of tenderness, young gorillas tumbling and playing while mothers keep a watchful eye, and dominant silverbacks guiding the group through the forest. But it also comes with hardships. They face threats from poaching, habitat loss, logging and human expansion, leaving them constantly at risk despite doing nothing more than trying to live in peace.

Standing beside the Cross River Gorilla is about more than protecting an endangered animal; it’s about honouring resilience, family, and the wild beauty they represent. To me, they are a reminder that when we fight for them, we fight for the forests, the balance of nature, and the hope that rare beings like them will continue to exist. I have been following their story for over two decades.