The Great Apes

[Astroboy]

first ever glimpse of a troop of the world’s rarest gorilla:
   
There are only about 300 Cross River gorillas left in the world, making them the rarest subspecies of gorilla, or indeed any great ape. But in late June, a camera located in Nigeria’s Mbe Mountains captured an encouraging sight: a group of Cross River gorillas, including several infants and juveniles, moseying past the lens.    
Before this, there were only a few known images of the critically endangered subspecies, which came from camera traps in both Cameroon and Nigeria. These include pictures of an adult gorilla with a missing hand, likely from a snare injury, a lone silverback, as well as a mother gorilla carrying a single baby on her back.
   
Cross River gorillas inhabit the lowland montane forests and rainforests of Cameroon and Nigeria, an area of 3,000 square miles (7,770 sq km), on the African continent. Scientists have identified 11 family groups (or troops) living in eight sites across this rugged, hilly terrain in overlapping home ranges.
Now there are about 100 Cross River gorillas living in Nigeria across three contiguous sites: the Okwangwo Division of Cross River National Park (Okwangwo), Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary, and the Mbe Mountains community forest. In Mbe itself, there are about 30 to 35 Cross River gorillas
   
As you can see a lonely silverback cross river gorilla 
Cross River gorillas stand 4.7 to 5.5 feet (1.4 to 1.7m) tall and weigh between 220 and 440 pounds (100 to 200kg). Lifespan in the wild is 35 to 50 years. Some of y'all can see that cross river gorillas differ slightly from their western lowland cousins 
 
Appearance:
Except for subtle differences in skull size (their heads are smaller relative to body size) and tooth dimensions, Cross River gorillas closely resemble their western lowland gorilla kin. Like western lowland gorillas, Cross River gorillas are slightly smaller than the eastern gorilla subspecies, with a more slender build, shorter and lighter-colored hair, longer arms, and a more prominent ridge line. 
   
On the left: cross river gorilla | on the right: western lowland gorilla
They have flat, expressive faces that are characteristic of all gorillas, with what appears to be a permanently furrowed brow (evocative of deep contemplation), wide nostrils, and dark eyes that are deeply set. Their faces, hands, and feet are bare of fur. The coats of Cross River gorillas are typically brownish gray to black, and they have auburn-colored chests; a reddish crest adorns their cone-shaped heads (same as western lowland gorillas). 
Comparatively little study has been conducted on Cross River gorillas. Most of what is known about general gorilla behavior and lifestyle comes from studies of mountain gorillas. But long-term studies currently underway at two Cross River gorilla habitat sites are already providing a peek into the ecology and social life of this rarest of all great apes.
   
It is extremely exciting to see so many young Cross River gorillas — an encouraging indication that these gorillas are now well protected and reproducing successfully, after previous decades of hunting Reply