The CrossRivergorilla is the most western and northern form of gorilla, and is restricted to the forested hills and mountains of the Cameroon-Nigeria border region at the headwaters of the CrossRiver. Of the four gorilla subspecies, the CrossRivergorilla holds the ignoble distinction of being the most threatened and is regarded as one of the twenty-five most endangered animals on our planet. Discover how the CrossRiverGorilla was identified, reclassified, and found again in the wild—tracing the story of the world’s rarest gorilla. Scientists have been unable to thoroughly study the distribution and abundance of the CrossRivergorilla until the last decade or so. Because the gorillas are wary of humans and inhabit rugged territory, scientists have been unable to count many of these gorillas directly. In the heart of Nigeria’s Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary, efforts are underway to learn more about the world’s rarest great ape – the CrossRivergorilla. These gorillas inhabit the tropical moist rainforest regions along the Nigeria-Cameroon border , spread across an area of about 12,000 km2. Trail cameras in the Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary have captured stunning footage of the world’s rarest great ape – the CrossRivergorilla. Jul 13, 2025 · A rare species of gorilla has been captured on a forest surveillance camera in a remote community in CrossRiver State, Nigeria, prompting renewed calls for wildlife conservation in the region.