Elusive half-man half-ape caught on video!!!

i-dbcd4eceb16be440854d3a0c9bd29fbc-19137_web.jpg
(c) NDR Naturfilm

Well, almost. Here's some info from the Wildlife Conservation Society's press release:

"With the assistance of the Wildlife Conservation Society's Cameroon Program, a film crew from the Hamburg-based NDR Naturfilm managed to video the elusive Cross River gorilla earlier this year in a stand of montane trees after weeks of effort in the Kagwene Gorilla Sanctuary. The protected area was created in 2008, with the guidance of WCS, specifically to protect the world's rarest great ape.

"These gorillas are extremely wary of humans and are very difficult to photograph or film," said Dr. Roger Fotso, Director of the Wildlife Conservation Society's Cameroon Program. "Eventually, we identified and staked out some of the gorillas favorite fig trees, which is where we finally achieved our goal."

"It's unbelievable that one great ape subspecies has never been filmed for TV so far," said Jörn Röver, Head of NDR Naturfilm. "We hope that our international production helps to raise awareness for these magnificent creatures and the work of the WCS."

The only previous footage available of the rare apes was taken from a long distance with a shaky, hand-held camera in 2005 by a field researcher."

This clip is the first professional video of the elusive and highly endangered Cross River gorilla. It is the world's rarest great ape, numbering fewer than 300 individuals along the border of Nigeria and Cameroon.

(c) NDR Naturfilm

Too bad the only apparent video equipment the team had on hand was my dad's camcorder...

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I am sure that with some editing they will be able to fix up the video further. Not to mention that youtube is not a professional video hosting site to say the least.

Anyway, a fantastic find and a wonderful sight to see these creatures in the wild.

Damn! I thought you had video of Glenn Beck... before he raped and killed that young turtle in 1991.

UGH... seriously? This makes me so sad. If this video is genuine, which I assume it is, then I have to ask why researchers are being sent into the field with such CRAPTASTIC equipment? I'd think that he more RARE your subject is then.. perhaps the better the equipment would be to capture their behaviors?

If all of this is a hoax then... I blame EGG NOG! Yep, it's one of those kinds of nights. ;)

I lubs ya Blemmies!! Best of the season to yah!

By arachnophile (not verified) on 23 Dec 2009 #permalink

P.S. I blame the eggnog!

By arachnophile (not verified) on 25 Dec 2009 #permalink