Cross River Gorilla - A Critically Endangered Species

Have you heard about the Cross River Gorillas? These cross river gorillas are one of the most critically endangered species with around 200 living in the wild.

Cross River Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla diehli). In captivity at the Limbe Wildlife Centre, Limbe, Cameroon. This lady gorilla is called Nyango
Source: By Julielangford (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)

They are found in the Cross River region bordering Nigeria and Cameroon. They are a WWF priority species and are on the IUCN red list.

Range of the cross river gorilla

Source: igorilla.org

The scientific name for the Cross river gorilla is Gorilla gorilla diehli and they are a subspecies of the western gorillas.

Cross River gorilla, Limbe Wildlife Centre, Cameroon
Source: arenddehaas at en.wikipedia [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)]

These gorillas have front facing eyes and have reddish coloured hair on their head. They live in small groups that are controlled by a mature male gorilla called the Silverback. Silverbacks have grey hair on their back.

Mature male Western gorillas are known as 'silverbacks', and are named after silvery-white hair on their back, rump and thighs

Source: arkive.org

They mostly eat fruits, leaves, berries, bulbs, barks, stems and sometimes feed on insects and lizards.

Lebialem Highlands, cross-river gorilla habitat

Source: globalgiving.org

The reproduction process is too slow since the females give birth once every 4 or 5 years. This is due to the fact that they look after their babies for a long time, almost 3 to 5 years.

Gorillas

Source: fauna-flora.org

If you wish to read in detail about the cross river gorilla, its characteristics, behaviour, habitat, food, main threats, conservation efforts and facts, please follow the link below.

Cross River Gorilla - A Critically Endangered Species

The main threats that the cross river gorillas face are:

• Clearing up forests for agriculture, plantation and human settlement
• Forest fire, either naturally or set by humans to clear the land for farming
• Hunting for bushmeat and gorilla fur
• Inbreeding due to the low population and also due to isolated groups
• Abduction of gorilla infants
• Competition for food
• Construction of transport facilities near gorilla habitat
• Ebola fever caused by ebola virus

Cross river gorillas

Source: earthtimes.org

Conservation efforts have been taken by the WWF and other conservation organisations. They work together with the governments to create protected areas, monitor gorilla population, prevent poaching, educate the communities, set camera traps and also to end destruction of the forest habitat.

Did you know? A group of gorillas is called a band or troop!

The cross river gorillas are intelligent and powerful animals. The numbers of these gorillas is now declining and if we do not work towards protecting them, they will go extinct in a few years.

Cross River Gorilla - A Critically Endangered Species

So what can we do to help protect and conserve the gorillas?

We can stop buying products made of gorilla parts. We can help by buying only FSC certified forest products. We can donate to WWF. We can adopt a gorilla. If not any of these, we can at least spread the word about the plight of these gorillas and create an awareness.

Extinction is Forever; Let us NOT LET that happen and help save the planet!

I hope you all had a good week and are ready for the weekend.
Have a good one.

Blessings and peace

Livingsta :-)