NEW YORK, Dec. 10 The U.S.-based Wildlife Conservation Society is starting a new study to help better protect Cross River gorillas -- the world's most endangered great ape.
The approximately 300 remaining Cross River gorillas are restricted to Nigeria and Cameroon, making them the most endangered of the four gorilla sub-species.
The new research follows a study that documented for the first time the use of weaponry by Cross River gorillas to ward off threats by humans.
The study, published earlier this year in the Journal of Primatology, found several instances of gorillas throwing sticks and clumps of grass when threatened by people. Gorillas usually flee and rarely charge when encountered by humans.
New field surveys to start next month will be an attempt to catalogue potential gorilla habitat. The detailed plan is available at
http://www.wcs.org/international/Africa/cameroonnigeriatransboundary/CrossRiverGorillaCopyright 2007 by UPI
