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Great Apes
Cross River Gorilla
Common Name: Cross River Gorilla
Scientific Name: Gorilla gorilla diehli
Location: Central Africa
The Cross River Gorilla is the most endangered African great ape, and is ranked among the 25 most endangered primates by the IUCN. While the Cross River Gorilla was first scientifically described in 1904, very little was known about this species for almost 100 years. In fact, it was once thought to be extinct, only to be rediscovered in the early 1980’s. Because it lives in such a remote location along the mountainous border of Cameroon and Nigeria it has never been well studied. It is separated from the nearest population of western lowland gorilla (the other subspecies of western gorilla) by at least 155 miles. Recent genetic testing indicates that while the Cross River gorilla is found in at least 11 scattered subpopulations, these subpopulations represent a viable population which actually has more genetic diversity than the relatively well-known mountain gorilla. Through WWF’s partnership with Wildlife Conservation Society working on this transboundary population, we have greatly increased our knowledge of this little known subspecies of gorilla.
WWF works to:
WWF's continent-wide African Great Apes Program aims to ensure the long-term survival of the great apes. WWF is also exploring ways to work with governments, local communities and timber companies to combat the commercial trade in bushmeat. Through WWF's trade monitoring arm, TRAFFIC, we are working to stop the international trade in meat from protected species such as great apes.
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