Endangered Species: Cross River Gorilla
Cross River Gorillas live in the rain and bamboo forests of the mountains between Cameroon and Nigeria, in a 3000 sq.mi. range. According to oneofakindplanet.org, they inhabit the top of the Cross River which the gorillas are named after. There are a minimum of 11 different groups. According to Gorillas world, these gorillas have a slightly smaller mouth and shorter skull than the Western Lowland Gorilla, of which the Cross River Gorilla is a subspecies. They also have a large nose with wide nostrils, opposable thumbs, and a straighter vertebrae than humans. worldwildlife.org states that there are only 200 - 300 of this critically endangered (CR) mammal left standing, making it the most endangered great ape in Africa.
Since their genetic diversity is low, these gorillas have a hard time fighting diseases, another major cause of their drastic demise. Oneofakindplanet.org also includes that the low population leaves a higher chance of inbreeding.Some of the biggest problems affecting the Cross River Gorillas though, are poaching and habitat loss. Habitat loss from deforestation leaves less space for the gorillas to nest freely. Logging to give space for agriculture, grazing land, and city growth take over the Gorillas' homes. A large part of the past population was hunted off by humans leaving the remaining gorillas scared of people. This can be good because it means the Gorillas will recognize hunters as predators but it also makes studying the shy animals a larger task for scientists.
Cross River Gorillas are the least well known of all gorilla subspecies, meaning that studying their ecology is even more important. Many different organizations including the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is working to protect the forests that these endangered gorillas call home and working with the governments of Cameroon and Nigeria to create protected areas for the gorillas. It is also trying to prevent logging and poaching in gorilla habitat.
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| A cross river gorilla infant Source: Africa Endeavors |
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| A cross river gorilla crossing his arms Source: Julie Langford/Gorillas-World |
Taxonomy:
Domain: Eukarya
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Suborder: Haplorhini
Infraorder: Simiformes
Family: Hominidae
Subfamily: Homininae
Genus: Gorilla
Species: Gorilla gorilla
Subspecies: Gorilla gorilla diehli
Cross River Gorillas are the least well known of all gorilla subspecies, meaning that studying their ecology is even more important. Many different organizations including the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is working to protect the forests that these endangered gorillas call home and working with the governments of Cameroon and Nigeria to create protected areas for the gorillas. It is also trying to prevent logging and poaching in gorilla habitat.
You can show you care by donating to the following charities: