Every nature lover will dream to visit the Afi Mountain
Drill Ranch which is a home to variety of primates, including magnificent
chimpanzees and gorillas. Located at the Boki local government area of Cross
River State, the drill ranch is internationally recognized centre for the
protection of endangered primates. It is actually the most successful centre of
its kind, and it has helped the Cross River State to be on the road map as the
most environmentally controlled state in the whole of Nigeria.
The road to the drill ranch is a very long one as one has to
maneuver his way through the hilly and galloping roads. But the real fun of the
adventure is experiencing the rustic atmosphere of the place.
Founded in 1991 by two US Conservationists Liz Gadsby and
Peter Jenkins, the centre mainly conserves species inhabiting the place
especially the drill monkeys which happen to be one of the most endangered
species of primate presently in the world. They are very unique because they
can be only found in three places across the world: the south western part of
Cameroon, the highland of Bioku in Equatorial Guinea, and the southern part of
Nigeria, in Cross River State.
There are about 300 of drill monkeys aside the gorillas and
chimpanzees kept in the closure and are fed three times daily. The animals
found there are not bought neither do the ranchers go hunting for them in the
wild. But they are illegal held drills and gorillas often caught by the hunters
and are handed over after seizure by the authorities for rehabilitation.
At the drill ranch, everyone learns how to treat the
animals, use the tools and even communicate with them. It is so interesting to
hear the staff there call the animals by name and tell you their ages and where
they’re brought from.
The drill monkeys are the second biggest in the world after mandrill,
and the males are bigger than the females. One male dominates a whole group and
they usually go in a small group of 20 in the wild.
20-25 years ago, the drill monkeys happened to be one of the
best bush meat hunted by the Cross River Communities. Hunters kill them a lot because
they move in a group and also because they are short-tailed monkeys and could
not jump long distances.
The drill monkeys are very useful to the ecosystem as they
help to fight certain insects that breed some toxic bacteria that destroy our
forest, hence the need to conserve them from getting extinct.
There is no limit to activity to enjoy at the Afi Mountain
Drill Ranch. You can also experience a trek through the canopy walkway that
runs through the forest, about 25 metres above the jungle floor. The ranch is
also available for overnight stay if you want to make a visit for more than one
day, where accommodations in form of cabins are provided. The ranch has about
six cabins which can accommodate up to 15 people, and are powered by solar
energy. Inside the cabins, you can see animals in their natural environment,
and gives you the feeling of being around animals and sleeping close to them.
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