Amazing Facts About the Cross River Gorilla
The Cross River Gorilla is a subspecies of the Western Gorilla.
There are currently only 200-300 Cross River Gorillas left in the wild, making them the most endangered great ape in Africa. They live in mountainous border area between Cameroon and Nigeria at the top of the Cross River, after which they are named. The entire population is spread over an area of about 3000 sq miles, which is about twice the size of Rhode Island.
Cross River gorillas have certain nesting behaviors (i.e. mean nest group size, style of the nest, location of the nest, and nest reuse patterns) that depend on things such as their current habitat, climate, food source availability and risk of attack or vulnerability. According to research done on the Cross River gorillas living in the Kagwene Gorilla Sanctuary, there is a high correlation between whether a nest is constructed on the ground or in a tree and the season. From April up until November, Cross River gorillas are more likely to build their nests within a tree, and from November on they are more likely to build it on the ground. Overall, it was found that more nests built at night were built on the ground as opposed to in trees. This species is also more likely to construct nests during the wet season than the dry season, as well as construct more arboreal nests in the wet season. It was found that day nest construction was more common, especially in the wet season. Reuse of nesting sites was also found to be common, although it did not have any relation to the season. And, their mean nest group size is from four to seven individuals. Although, nest group size varies depending on the location of the species.The groups of cross river gorillas consist mainly of one male and six to seven females plus their offspring. Gorillas in lowlands are seen to have less offspring than those in the highlands. This is thought to be because of the hunting rate in the lowlands and infant mortality rate. The groups in the highlands are densely populated compared to those in the lowlands.The cross river gorilla's diet consists largely of fruit, herbaceous vegetation, liana, and tree bark. Much like their nesting habits, what they eat is contingent on the season. Observations of the gorilla indicate that it seems to prefer fruit, but will settle for other sources of nutrition during the dry season of about 4–5 months in northern regions. Cross River gorillas eat more liana and tree bark throughout the year, and less fruit during dry periods of scarcity.What threats does the Cross River Gorilla face?
These Gorillas have been hunted extensively in the past, meaning the remaining population is shy and avoids human contact. Sightings are very rare.
The tiny remaining population of the Cross River Gorilla means that genetic diversity is low, leaving the population less able to adapt and cope with diseases, and vulnerable to inbreeding, which can make successful reproduction more difficult.
The remaining Cross River Gorillas are under threat as their habitat continues to be lost as a result of deforestation. Even though they are a protected species, hunting for bushmeat continues to be a problem, with an estimated 1-3 Cross River Gorillas lost to poachers every year.
Conservation programmes in Nigeria and Cameroon are attempting to prevent the extinction of this gentle giant. They are focusing on building local community support for the protection of this species and landscape-scale habitat conservation, which involves maintaining and restoring ?corridors? of forest to connect up the main sanctuaries and National Parks where these gorillas reside.