Cross River gorilla
Cross River gorillas are one of the most endangered gorilla species in the wild , there are about 300 gorilla individuals remaining in the wild .
Cross river gorillas are a subspecies of the western gorillas and they can be rarely seen . These gorilla species are differentiated from the western lowland gorillas by their different shaped skull and they have greyer fur than eastern gorillas .
Cross river gorillas habit the areas of Cameroon and Nigeria on the banks of cross river .
Cross river gorillas live in dense tropical forests in the National parks of Takamanda in Cameroon and Kagwene Gorilla sanctuary .
Cross river gorilla numbers are affected b poaching ,habuitat loss and diseases.
The cross river gorilla was identified and named as a new species by Paul Matshie a mammalian taxonomist at Humboldt University zoological museum Berlin in 1904 .
An adult male cross river gorilla grows up to a height of 175cm and weighs about 200kg while an adult female gorilla grows up to a height of 140cm and weighs about 100kg .
The cross river gorillas are separated from the nearest western lowland gorillas by about 300km and about 250km from the gorillas living in the Ebo forest of Cameroon .
Cross river gorillas are very social animals and they live in groups known as families comprising of about 4 to 7 individuals or more but it is rare for them to be 20 or 30 members in a group.
They are led by a dominat silverback who defends the family , mates with females , decides feeding and nesting grounds .
The cross river gorillas are mainly vegetarians who feed on leaves , fruits , seeds , roots, shoots , stems among others.
Cross river gorillas generally leave on the ground but also can climb in the tree branches depending .
The nesting behavior is dependent on factors like seasonal fruits , climate , availability of nesting materials etc.
The physical characteristics of cross river gorillas are smaller skulls , cranial vaults , palates and ears as well as small hand and borne length compared to other gorillas .
The cross river gorillas are also called Gorilla gorilla Diehl.
Conservation of cross river gorillas
The major threats for cross river gorillas are habitat destruction , diseases and then poaching . Because of these threats , the cross river gorillas have attracted attention from wildlife conservation organizations like wild world fund for nature and wildlife conservation society and the government of Cameroon and Nigeria.
The governments of Cameroon and Nigeria have enforced strict laws within National parks to reduce poaching of these endangered primates .
The government have also deployed well armed and trained guards to prevent human encroachment in the national parks .
The government have also assisted locals living around national parks to find other areas.
Best time to visit cross river gorillas
The best time to visit cross river gorillas is the dry season in the months of June to September and December to February . This is because the trails are dry and thus easy passage .
By and large , cross river gorillas are exciting creatures that contribute to the ecosystem .
