Cross River National Park
Summary
- Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes ellioti) & Cross river gorillas (Gorilla gorilla diehli) are present in Cross River National Park.
- The population sizes are unknown.
- The population trends are unknown.
- The site has a total size of 4,000 km².
- Illegal logging and hunting are the most important threats to great apes in the park.
- Conservation activities have not been documented.
Site characteristics
Situated in southeast Nigeria, Cross River National Park (CRNP) was established in 1991 and is divided into two sections: the smaller Okwangwo Division (1,000 sq. km), and the larger Oban Division (3,000 sq. km). The sections are separated by about 50 km of disturbed forest (BirdLife International 2020). Over 350 species have been observed in the park, which is one of the most ornithologically diverse sites in Nigeria and is designated as an Important Bird Area (BirdLife International 2020). The Okwanwgo section is adjacent to Takamanda National Park in Cameroon; together they represent the most important area for the critically endangered Cross River Gorilla (WCS). Oban is contiguous with Korup National Park in Cameroon, and it is an important watershed, draining into the Cross river in the northern part, and Calabar, Kwa, and Korup rivers in the south (BirdLife International 2020). A total of 1,303 flowering plants, 141 lichens, and 56 moss species have so far been documented in Oban, making it remarkably rich in floral diversity. Both sections of CRNP are home to several mammal species, including forest elephants (Loxodonta africana cyclotis), Preuss's red colobus (Procolobus preussi), mandrills (Mandrillus leucophaeus), leopards (Panthera pardus), and Sclater's guenon (Cercopithecus sclateri), a Nigerian endemic (BirdLife International 2020). The contiguous Oban-Korup forest is famous for its rich butterfly diversity (WCS).
Table 1. Basic site information for Cross River National Park
| Area | 4,000 km² |
| Coordinates | 5.579848, 8.748074 |
| Designation | National Park |
| Habitat types | Subtropical/tropical moist lowland forest, subtropical//tropical moist montane forest, permanent rivers, subtropical/tropical heavily degraded former forest |
Ape status
Table 2. Ape population estimates in Cross River National Park
| Species | Year | Abundance estimate (95% CI) | Density estimate [ind./ km²] (95% CI) | Encounter rate (nests/km) | Area | Method | Source | Comments | A.P.E.S. database ID |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gorilla gorilla diehli | 2007 | 25-50 | Okwangwo Division | Unknown | Oates et al. 2007 |
Threats
Illegal logging is the most important threat to the park and has worsened since the withdrawal of funding by the European Union. CRNP is important for the protection of the catchment of the Cross river. As the human population grows, the demand for farmland is leading to encroachment in areas of the park previously considered inaccessible. Traditional exploitation of natural resources such as hunting, fishing and shifting cultivation, adversely impact the park (BirdLife International 2020).
Table 3. Threats to apes in Cross River National Park
| Category | Specific threats | Threat level | Quantified severity | Description | Year of threat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Residential & commercial development | Unknown | ||||
| 2. Agriculture & aquaculture | 2.1 Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Present, but threat severity is unknown | A number of agricultural concessions for oil palm and pineapple were illegally awarded inside the park boundary (WCS). | Ongoing | |
| 3. Energy production & mining | Unknown | ||||
| 4. Transportation & service corridors | Unknown | ||||
| 5. Biological resource use | 5.1 Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | High | Hunting is widespread in both sections of the park; as a result, the density of all large mammals is low (WCS; Adetola & Adetoro 2014). | Ongoing (2014) | |
| 5. Biological resource use | 5.2 Gathering terrestrial plants | Present, but threat severity is unknown | Collection of NTFPs such as bush mango is widespread and leads to the seasonal establishment of camps in the park (WCS; Adetola & Adetoro 2014). | Ongoing (2014) | |
| 5. Biological resource use | 5.3 Logging & wood harvesting | High | Illegal logging has been described as a main threat. Timber is often floated out of the park along major rivers (WCS; Adetola & Adetoro 2014). | Ongoing (2014) | |
| 5. Biological resource use | 5.4 Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources | Present, but threat severity is unknown | Fish stocks and aquatic life have declined as a result of water poisoning for fishing (Adetola & Adetoro 2014; BirdLife International 2020). | Ongoing (2020) | |
| 6. Human intrusion & disturbance | Unknown | ||||
| 7. Natural system modifications | Unknown | ||||
| 8. Invasive & other problematic species, genes, diseases | Unknown | ||||
| 9. Pollution | Unknown | ||||
| 10. Geological Events | Absent | ||||
| 11. Climate change & severe weather | Unknown | ||||
| 12. Other options | Absent |
Conservation activities
Table 4. Conservation activities in Cross River National Park
| Category | Specific activity | Description | Year of activity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Residential & commercial development | Not reported | ||
| 2. Agriculture & aquaculture | Not reported | ||
| 3. Energy production & mining | Not reported | ||
| 4. Transportation & service corridors | Not reported | ||
| 5. Biological resource use | Not reported | ||
| 6. Human intrusion & disturbance | Not reported | ||
| 7. Natural system modifications | Not reported | ||
| 8. Invasive & other problematic species, genes, diseases | Not reported | ||
| 9. Pollution | Not reported | ||
| 10. Education & Awareness | Not reported | ||
| 11. Habitat Protection | Not reported | ||
| 12. Species Management | Not reported | ||
| 13. Livelihood; Economic & Other Incentives | Not reported |
Challenges
Table 5. Challenges reported for Cross River National Park
| Challenge | Source |
|---|---|
| Lack of financial means | Adetola & Adetoro 2014 |
| Lack of technical means | Adetola & Adetoro 2014 |
| Lack of trust and support from local communities | Adetola & Adetoro 2014 |
Research activities
Tolerance factors in human-wildlife conflicts in protected areas: the case of Cross River National Park, Cross River State Nigeria
Hunting Intensity on Wildlife Population in Oban Sector of Cross River National Park
The Role of Traditional Laws and Taboos in Wildlife Conservation in the Oban Hill Sector of Cross River National Park (CRNP), Nigeria
Documented behaviours
Table 6. Ape behaviors reported for Cross River National Park
| Behavior | Source |
|---|---|
| Not reported |
External links
WCS Cross River National Park, Oban Division
WCS Cross River National Park, Okwango Division
References
Adetola, B.O. & Adetoro, A.O. (2014). Threats to biodiversity conservation in Cross River National Park, Nigeria. International Journal of Conservation Science, 5(4), 547-552.
BirdLife International (2020) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Cross River National Park (Oban Division). Retrieved from http://www.birdlife.org on 26/11/2020.
Oates JF, Sunderland-Groves J, Bergl R, Dunn A, Nicholas A, Takang E, Omeni F, Imong I, Fotso R, Nkembi L & Williamson EA. (2007). Regional Action Plan for the Conservation of the Cross River Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla diehli). Oates J F, Sunderland-Groves Jacqueline, Bergl Richard, Dunn Andrew, Nicholas Aaron, Takang Ebai, Omeni Fidelis, Imong Inaoyom, Fotso Roger, Nkembi Louis, Williamson Liz (ed.). IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist Group and Conservation International.
Page completed by: A.P.E.S. Wiki Team Date: 06/12/2020