Did you know there is a sub-specie of gorillas with fewer than 300 individuals still surviving in the wild? Well, the Cross River Gorillas also famous as Gorilla gorilla diehli are one of the sub-species of the western gorillas and they are considerably one of the least populated gorilla species in the wild. Originally, this gorilla specie was recognized as distinct sub-species in 1904 and despite their earlier recognition, it took them a long time to become till 1987.
The Cross River Gorillas are listed as most endangered sub-specie with fewer than 300 of them still surviving on planet earth today unlike other gorilla sub-species. However, there is a slight difference between these endangered species from other species of gorillas. The teeth dimensions and the skull are some of the unique features that distinguishes them from the western lowland gorillas.
Where to see the Cross River Gorillas
The Cross River Gorillas like the rare mountain gorillas survive mostly in the mountains, highlands and forests. They can be spotted at the border between Cameroon and Nigeria. These forest dwellers exist in the Mbe Mountains in Cameroon, the Afi Mountains of Nigeria, Takamanda National Park in Cameroon and Cross River National Park in Nigeria. They exist in the least human populated places and range in the higher elevation about 1500 and 3500m in the tropical rain-forest and 2500 and 3000m in the Bamboo forests.
Brief facts about the Cross River Gorillas
The Cross River Gorillas are of no doubt the most powerful and robust creatures with elongated head, shorter skull, broad nose, short feet, hands and teeth. Male Cross River Gorillas weigh about 200kgs with a height of 1.40m unlike other species of gorillas.
Between 1995 and 2011, 58 percent decline in the Cross River Gorilla population was recorded. In the 1980s, they nearly got extinct in the wild due to the civil war but their number slowly grew. They are listed among the critically endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Due to their low population, gorilla trekking isn’t active compared to mountain gorilla trekking in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
They can be distinguished from the rest of the other sub-species of gorillas considering their sizes; they feature slightly smaller skulls, palates, ears and cranial vaults. Equally, they have smaller limbs, feet and hands. The hair on the face is even and bare.
Like other gorilla species, the Cross River Gorillas live in families ranging from 4 to 7 members. However, a group of these endangered species can also comprise of 20 members although on rare occasions. A mature male (silverback) is a leader of the group whose role solely involves safeguarding females, infants and the rest of the family members.
They nest considering key factors such as seasonal fruits, climate, vegetation, availability of construction material and presence of predators. They usually nest on the ground when it is a dry season and during the rainy season, they set their nests on tree branches.
The Cross River Gorillas like other species of gorillas depend largely on fruits, herbs, tree barks. The wet season is characterized by plenty of forage for them to depend and the dry season is when most tree fruits ripen.
These primate species remain among the most threatened in the wild due to habitat loss, poaching, spread of human infectious diseases and a lot more. However, they are also aggressive in nature.
Cross River Gorilla can survive in the wild for about 30 to 50 years. Females have the gestation period of about 8-9months and they give birth to a single baby gorilla which weighs between 3 and 4 ibis.