Table 2. Response to the question “Should gorillas be protected” by villagers in the Lebialem Division of South West Region, Cameroon (percentage of all respondents, N = 184)

Ranked reasons why gorillas should be/not be protected Percentage
Yes They are totem animals 30
We want the next generation to also see them 23
Important for medicine 11
Gorillas visitors will bring development to the village 10
Important to the forest ecosystem 8
Similarity to humans 4
We need more in the future for hunting 1
No idea 2
No Gorillas are dangerous and can kill humans 5
Gorillas raid crops 4
Totemic practice is not good and totem animals should be killed 2