Cross River gorilla

The Cross River gorilla is a critically endangered subspecies of western gorilla found in forested areas along the Nigeria–Cameroon border. It is the rarest and most geographically restricted gorilla subspecies.

Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary: A protected area in Nigeria that shelters Cross River gorillas and other wildlife. It protects one of the subspecies’ key Nigerian habitat areas.
Habitat fragmentation: The division of continuous habitat into smaller, isolated patches. Roads, farms, and settlements divide the forests Cross River gorillas depend on.
Western gorilla: The gorilla species native to western and central Africa, comprising two recognized subspecies. The Cross River gorilla is one of its two subspecies.
Gorilla conservation: Efforts to protect gorilla populations, their habitats, and the ecological processes they depend on. Work on this subspecies is one part of broader gorilla conservation.
Takamaanda National Park: A national park in southwestern Cameroon bordering Nigeria’s Cross River National Park. Its forests form part of the transboundary landscape used by Cross River gorillas.
Poaching: The illegal killing or capture of wild animals. Hunting can kill gorillas directly and threaten their survival in small groups.
Gorilla: A genus of large African apes containing the eastern and western gorilla species. This is the broader primate group to which the subspecies belongs.
Transboundary conservation: Conservation coordinated across national borders to protect shared ecosystems and wildlife. The gorilla’s range crosses Nigeria and Cameroon, requiring cooperation between both countries.
Cross River National Park: A Nigerian national park comprising the Oban Hills and Okwangwo divisions. The Okwangwo Division protects important Cross River gorilla habitat.
Bushmeat: Wild animals hunted for human consumption. Demand for bushmeat can expose gorillas to snares and direct hunting.

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