A wildlife conservator has shared a chilling account of a close brush with death after he and his team stumbled into a gorilla’s territory during a field expedition in the Oban Division of Cross River National Park, Nigeria.
According to the conservator, the team was returning from a routine trip along the Great Kwa River when they became disoriented in the dense forest and unknowingly entered a gorilla den—right as a female was giving birth and the dominant male was on high alert.
What followed was a terrifying encounter. A massive male gorilla, standing about 10 feet tall, suddenly emerged from the undergrowth and attacked.
One of the rangers was hurled through the air with terrifying force. Following their training, the ranger lay motionless, pretending to be dead—a tactic that saved his life as the gorilla, after roaring in dominance, eventually backed off and disappeared into the forest.
The group remained hidden and silent for nearly half an hour before regrouping. Believing the ranger might be dead, they were relieved to discover he had faked being unconscious to avoid further aggression.
With no communication signals available in the area, the team resorted to firing a flare to call for help. Support eventually arrived to escort them safely back to camp.
Reflecting on the harrowing moment, the conservator emphasized the sheer power of gorillas, stating that no human could physically overpower one. T
he incident served as a stark reminder of the wild’s unpredictable nature and the need for constant caution in conservation work.
Source: NewsandVibes.com
