New Safe Havens Found for Cameroon’s Cross River Gorrillas
Fears of a looming extinction of the world’s rarest ape, the Cross River Gorilla, have been partially alleviated. American conservationists have discovered the existence of more suitable habitats for the primates than previously considered. As a result, the endangered primates residing along the Cameroon – Nigeria border have more chances of survival and expansion provided the new safe havens are adequately guarded and the killing of the gorillas halted.
March 16, 2012
The newly discovered habitats are found along a hilly and forested stretch of the border between Cameroon and Nigeria. The remote area is already home to the only 300 surviving gorillas in Cross River, listed by conservationists as critically endangered.
Scientists from the North Carolina Zoo in the US and the World Conservation Society among others participated in the research. They used satellite imaging techniques to take high-resolution photographs of the Cross River region from which the apes derive their name.
The pictures enabled the researchers to demarcate the distribution of forests and also map out other types of land cover in the area. On the ground, field researchers trekked to over 400 control points to verify the accuracy of the satellite pictures. In most cases, it exceeded 90 percent.
Using other environmental data including the presence and proximity of human activity, the researchers drew up maps of gorilla habitats. Their findings revealed that the apes currently have more shelter than previously estimated. The scientists also found previously unknown passageways that enable the primates to move between habitats in search of mates.
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2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25