Williamson, Elizabeth A.

The combination of threats currently facing the remaining great apes requires immediate conservation action at all scales – from site-level initiatives, through national and regional strategies, to international conventions and action plans. This document outlines current approaches to great ape surveys and monitoring for field biologists, protected area managers, government wildlife departments and the conservation community at large.

The Cross River gorilla (Gorilla gorilla diehli) is recognized by IUCN as Critically Endangered, and is the most threatened taxon of ape in Africa. Work during the last two decades has revealed that fewer than 300 Cross River gorillas may remain, spread across an area of about 12,000 km2. The outlook for these apes is far from hopeless, but a concerted and sustained effort will be required if their long-term survival is to be assured.