目前全世界僅剩下300隻野生跨河大猩猩（Cross River gorillas），而為了保護牠們，作為世界上僅存大猩猩的二個國家──喀麥隆及奈及利亞，兩國政府決定聯手展開新的保育行動。雙方代表上週同意增進彼此的跨國合作，保護嚴重瀕危物種，及其他的瀕危野生物。
跨河大猩猩保護區（Cross River National Park）總管理處－奈及利亞的阿坎克巴（Akamkpa）舉行國際會議並達成協議。
奈及利亞的與會者包括了跨河大猩猩保護區的代表們以及十字河州（Cross River State）的政府官員。參與盛會的喀麥隆代表則有魯普國家公園（Korup National Park）以及目前擬議中的達卡南達國家公園（Takamanda National Park）的成員。
另外，總部位於紐約的美國野生動物保育協會（Wildlife Conservation Society）、美國漁業暨野生物管理局（U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service）以及全球保育團體世界自然基金會（the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service）等皆給予財政與組織的支持，協助會議順利達成。
野生物保育協會（WCS）非洲專案的主任杜奇博士（Dr. James Deutsch）表示：「會議充分討論了保護區可能面臨的許多跨國挑戰及解決之道，未來才能夠確保跨河大猩猩及其他受威脅和瀕危物種的生存安全。」
與會者也同意必須減少野生動物的肉品買賣（bushmeat trade）和非法伐林，同時加強保護區監督，提升社區參與和自然保育教育，並促進保護區中的執法效率。
杜奇表示，「希望這次重新達成的協議能夠進一步鼓勵更多人，共同維護跨國保護區。」
該跨國保護區設立案，在第一次的聯合調查之後，隨即舉行這項國際會議，其中參與的包括了Okwangwo區跨河大猩猩保護區的公園警衛隊，及喀麥隆目前擬議中的達卡南達國家公園工作人員等。
With just 300 individuals left in the wild, Cross River gorillas have found new conservation support from the governments of Cameroon and Nigeria, the only two countries where these great apes live.
Representatives from the two nations agreed last week to improve trans-boundary cooperation to protect the critically endangered species, as well as other endangered wildlife.
The agreement was reached at an international meeting in Akamkpa, Nigeria at the head office of Cross River National Park.
From the Nigerian side of the border, participants included Cross River park representatives and Cross River State government officials.
From the Cameroon side, representatives of Korup National Park and the proposed Takamanda National Park participated in the meeting.
Financial and organizational support from the New York based Wildlife Conservation Society, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the global conservation group WWF made the meeting possible.
"The protected areas involved in this meeting share a number of trans-boundary challenges, which must be addressed if a future is to be secured for Cross River gorillas as well as other threatened and endangered species," said Dr. James Deutsch, director of WCS's Africa Programs.
The participants agreed to reduce the bushmeat trade and illegal logging, strengthen field monitoring, increase community involvement and conservation education, and improve law enforcement within the parks.
"It is hoped that this renewed commitment will further encourage increased support for the continued protection of these trans-boundary protected areas," said Deutsch.
The meeting was held soon after the first joint survey of the trans-boundary area, involving park rangers from the Okwangwo Division of Cross River National Park and their colleagues from the proposed Takamanda National Park in Cameroon.
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