Surveys of the Cross River Gorilla and Chimpanzee populations in Takamanda Forest Reserve, Cameroon

Citation

Sunderland-Groves J, Maisels F & Ekinde A (2003) Surveys of the Cross River Gorilla and Chimpanzee populations in Takamanda Forest Reserve, Cameroon. In: Comiskey J, Sunderland T & Sunderland-Groves J (eds.) Takamanda- the biodiversity of an African Rainforest. SI/MAB Series, 8. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institition, pp. 129-140. http://terrysunderland.com/_asset/berkas/Takamanda:_the_Biodiversity_of_an_African_Rainforest_-170611.pdf#page=139

Abstract
Since the early 1900's an isolated population of gorillas has been known to occur in the Takamanda Forest Reserve in Cameroon and in the adjacent forests of eastern Nigeria. Recent genetic and craniometric research has concluded that these gorillas are taxonomically distinct from the western lowland gorillas living in forests to the south and east of the Sanaga River. They are now termed the Cross River gorilla Gorilla gorilla diehli and are listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN. As their numbers and conservation status in the Takamanda Forest Reserve, Cameroon had not been evaluated for a decade, a survey was carried out from March 1998 to January 1999. Surveys were also carried out in 2000 and 2001 in the adjacent Mone Forest Reserve and the contiguous forest area northwards, Mbulu Forest. Although the focus of this study was to obtain data on gorillas, data on all other large mammals and on signs of human pressure were also collected and analysed. Gorillas were confirmed to be present in both the Takamanda and Mone Reserves, almost exclusively in the less hunted highlands which cover approximately XXX of the total area of the two reserves (YOU SHOULD CALCULATE THIS). These findings indicate that the Gorilla gorilla diehli population in Cameroon is possibly around 100 individuals, which would bring the whole known population of this subspecies up to XXX .

People

Professor Fiona Maisels

Honorary Professor, Biological and Environmental Sciences