Cross River Gorilla Fact Sheet
Common Name: Cross River Gorilla
Scientific Name: Gorilla gorilla diehli
Wild Status: Critically Endangered
Habitat: Lowland forests
Country: Mountains of the Cameroon-Nigeria border region, headwaters of the Cross
River Nigeria
Shelter: Forest
Life Span: 35 to 50 years
Size: Males 5'5" to 5'9" and 310 to 440 lbs Females 4'7" and 220 lbs
Details:
The Cross River Gorilla is a subspecies of the western gorilla. These gorillas like to live in forests and tropical jungles on the border between Nigeria and Cameroon. The Cross River Gorilla has opposable thumbs which helps them peel and eat fruit. They have also been seen using tools to find food. Their main diet consists of tree bark, leaves, berries, nuts, some insects and sometimes small rodents. They live in groups with one male who is the alpha. The alpha male will mate with the females in the group and the female will give birth to one baby. The baby will stay with the mom until it's a few years old and able to be independent. The Cross River Gorilla is a critically endangered species because of habitat loss and hunting.
Cool Facts:
• There are estimated only 200-300 Cross River Gorillas left in the wild. • The biggest threat to the Cross River Gorilla is habitat loss caused by deforestation. • They are the most threatened of all the subspecies of gorilla. • The Cross River Gorilla is a subspecies of the Western Gorilla. • The Cross River Gorilla is one of the great apes. • Their only real predators due to their large size are leopards and crocodiles. • The Cross River Gorilla lives in groups which are led and protected by the alpha male.
Taxonomic Breakdown:
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Primates Suborder: Haplorhini Infraorder: Simiiformes Family: Hominidae Subfamily: Homininae Genus: Gorilla Species: G. gorilla Subspecies: Gorilla gorilla diehli
Conservation & Helping:
It has been estimated that there are less than 300 Cross River Gorillas left in the wild. They are being threatened by bushmeat hunters and habitat loss. The government of Cameroon created Takamanda National Parkin an attempt to protect the gorillas. The Kagwene Gorilla Sanctuary was also created as part of IUCN's Cross River Gorilla action plan.
Download all our fact sheets, take our quizzes, and more, all in the Critter Squad Kids’ Zone! https://www.crittersquad.com/kids-zone/