The Cross River gorilla is the most endangered of the African apes due to human encroachment and poaching.
- A critically endangered subspecies of the western gorilla.
- Scientists are unable to be exact on numbers remaining but have estimated between only 200- 300 individuals left in the wild. This is because:-
- The gorillas are wary of humans
- The gorillas inhabit a rugged terrain and are scattered across an area of 3,000 square miles
- Up to eleven groups remain, inhabiting the lowland montane forests and rainforests of Cameroon and Nigeria.
- They are critically endangered due to:-
- Their habitat being increasingly encroached upon by humans
- Forest clearing for timber
- The creation of fields for agriculture and livestock
- The lost of just a few gorillas has a dramatic effect on such a tiny population
Oil on canvas. 100cm x 100cm x 4cm Finalist: Wildlife Artist of the Year 2017