Cross River Gorilla

Gorilla gorilla diehli, also known as the Cross River gorilla,[4] was discovered as a new subspecies of the western gorilla by Paul Mataschie, a mammalian taxonomist, in 1904.[6] The Cross River gorilla is the most western and northern form of gorilla, and lives in the hills and mountains of the Cameroon-Nigeria border region near the Cross River,[4] about 300 km away from other lowland western gorillas.[4]

Most recently in 2007, IUCN had labeled Gorilla gorilla diehli as critically endangered,[7] with about 200 to 300 known gorillas left,[4] but according to a survey conducted by Conservation International, in 2012 the Cross River gorilla did not make “The World’s 25 Most Endangered Primates List”[8]

Threats that contribute to the endangered status of the Cross River gorilla include: overhunting,[4] forest fires,[4] and loss of genetic diversity,[7] due to their small population, and even smaller grouping size (4-7 individuals) and fragmented population.[2] In 2007 though, a Regional Action Plan for the Conservation of the Cross River gorilla was established that included conducting further research on G. gorilla diehli, raising awareness and teaching the locals about conserving the forests and protecting the Cross River gorilla, and limiting ecotourism which can have negative effects on the species