Cross River gorillas live in small groups of 4 to 7 individuals, led by a large silverback male. They spend their days moving through highland forest, eating leaves, fruit, seeds and bark. Because they live in steep, hilly forest rather than flat lowland jungle, they are harder to track than other gorilla species. Researchers often identify individuals from photos of their unique knuckle prints — like fingerprints, but on their hands.
These gorillas are critically endangered, which means they are at very high risk of disappearing from the wild if nothing changes. The main challenge they face is the loss of forest habitat — when forest is cleared for farmland or roads, the gorillas have less space to find food and move between groups. Conservation teams work very hard to protect the remaining forest patches they use.
Camera traps — cameras triggered automatically when an animal walks past — have helped scientists learn a lot about Cross River gorillas without disturbing them. Images from these cameras have shown groups playing, the silverback standing tall to show his strength, and young gorillas wrestling with each other. The footage is remarkable because it captures behaviour almost never seen by human eyes.
Local communities in the Cross River area are essential partners in gorilla conservation. Community rangers from nearby villages patrol the forest, report on gorilla sightings and help protect the forest that both gorillas and people depend on. Many communities now feel proud to be the guardians of such a rare animal.