Cross River Gorilla Sanctuary: A Safe Haven for Threatened Primates

The Cross River Gorilla Sanctuary is a haven for the critically endangered Cross River gorillas. It's located in the Mambilla Plateau of Nigeria and the Bakassi Peninsula of Cameroon.

The sanctuary is a safe haven for these threatened primates, providing a protected area for them to live and thrive. The Cross River gorillas are a subspecies of western gorillas and are found in only a small portion of the Cross River region.

The sanctuary is home to a small but growing population of Cross River gorillas, with conservation efforts in place to protect and study these magnificent creatures.

Habitat loss is a significant threat to the survival of Cross River gorillas.

Their habitat is scattered across a rugged terrain of approximately 12,000 km, making conservation efforts challenging.

The species occupies roughly 14 geographically separated areas, with population sizes estimated at 75-110 in Nigeria and 125-185 in Cameroon.

These areas are mostly undisturbed dense forests, which are scarce due to human occupation or use for natural resources.

Cross River gorillas will not nest in areas near humans, even with conservation laws in place.

This is evident in the Takamanda National Park and the Kagwene Gorilla Sanctuary, where nest distribution is influenced by anthropogenic factors.

Conservation and Eco-guards are empowered to enforce wildlife laws within the sanctuary, but habitat loss poses a significant threat to the species.

A planned superhighway to the west of Ekuri community forest was rerouted in 2017 to mitigate its impact on the remaining habitat.

Creating a sanctuary for the Cross River gorillas is a complex task, but it's essential for their survival. The Okwangwo division of the Cross River National Park is the only place where these gorillas live, and it's facing serious threats.

The park is divided into two main areas: the Boshi forest and the Okwa hills. The Boshi forest is home to one group of gorillas, while the Okwa hills are inhabited by another group. The Okwa gorillas also venture into the Takamanda park, but the Boshi forest is separated from it by human settlements.

Three villages are enclaved within the park, and the spread of farmland is a significant problem. It threatens to split the Okwangwo division in two, isolating the Boshi gorillas from the rest of the park.

Cross River gorillas are known to be unusual in their behavior when encountered by humans, they usually flee and rarely charge, but have been observed throwing sticks and clumps of grass to defend themselves.

They have specific nesting behaviors that depend on their habitat, climate, food source availability, and risk of attack or vulnerability. In the Kagwene Gorilla Sanctuary, it was found that they are more likely to build their nests in trees from April to November and on the ground from November on.

Cross River gorillas primarily eat fruit, herbaceous vegetation, liana, and tree bark. However, their diet varies depending on the season, with a preference for fruit but settling for other sources during the dry season.

Cross River gorillas inhabit a vast area of approximately 12,000 km of rugged terrain spanning the Nigeria-Cameroon border region. Their populations are split into small, geographically separated areas.

The gorillas occupy roughly 14 areas of undisturbed dense forest, which is scarce due to human occupation or use for natural resources. These areas are often found near villages, where small settlements are scattered throughout.

A new road threatens to sever the link between Mbulu and Takamanda, which would also ease access for hunters into the area, and facilitate more habitat destruction. This highlights the importance of protecting gorilla habitats from human activities.

The gorillas in Mbulu live on a long highland ridge between four villages, where inhabitants depend on hunting, farming, tree-cutting, and harvesting NTFPs due to poor road access. Since there is no formal protection, land use is under little control.

Habitat loss is now posing a bigger threat to the species and their survival, with populations residing in areas of undisturbed dense forest.

Cross River gorillas have some remarkable behaviors that are worth mentioning. They're not as aggressive as you might think, and will usually flee when encountered by humans.

In fact, a study published in 2007 found several instances of gorillas throwing sticks and clumps of grass when threatened. This is unusual, as they rarely charge.

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These intelligent animals have developed unique nesting behaviors that depend on their habitat, climate, food source availability, and risk of attack. For example, they're more likely to build nests in trees from April to November.

During the wet season, Cross River gorillas are more likely to construct nests in trees, while during the dry season, they tend to build them on the ground. Interestingly, more nests are built on the ground at night than in trees.

Their diet consists mainly of fruit, herbaceous vegetation, liana, and tree bark. However, their food preferences change with the season - they prefer fruit, but will settle for other sources of nutrition during the dry season.

In the wet season, Cross River gorillas eat more liana and tree bark throughout the year, and less fruit during dry periods of scarcity.

The Cross River gorilla's evolution is a fascinating topic.

It's believed that the Cross River gorilla began to evolve into a distinct subspecies of Gorilla gorilla in response to declining food sources and a greater emphasis on herbivory and terrestrial behaviors.

During an arid period of the African Pleistocene phase, ancestors to the Cross River gorilla may have been secluded to the forests near the Cross River headwaters and/or elsewhere in the Cameroon highlands.

The team that proposed this hypothesis suggested that the Cross River gorillas may not have spread much since their isolation.

There's no evidence to suggest that G. g. gorilla and G. g. diehli are sympatric, meaning they don't live in the same area.

Despite being isolated, conservationists are optimistic about the gorilla's chances for survival after capturing several adults and babies on film in spring 2020.

Conservation efforts are underway to protect the Cross River gorilla, a critically endangered species. Takamanda National Park in Cameroon, a 261-square-mile park, was created to safeguard their habitat.

This new park is a significant step forward, providing a safe haven for the Cross River gorilla. The park's creation is a testament to the dedication of conservationists working tirelessly to protect Africa's endangered species.

The Cross River gorilla's population is estimated to be less than 200 individuals, making conservation efforts even more crucial.

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