With only 200 to 300 in their entire population, the Cross River gorilla* is rarely photographed in the wild.

Closeup of the Cross River gorilla’s face.

A new park has been created and announced in the African country of Cameroon to try to protect a critically endangered subspecies of gorilla.

There are only thought to be about 300 Cross River gorillas left in the world and up to 115 of them are living in the Takamanda National Park.

Part of the problem they face is from hunters and people who cut down trees in the forests where they like to live.

But animal experts say the new national park should help to stop that threat.

Sreven Sanderson from the Wildlife Conservation Society said the creation of the park sent a powerful message to the world about conservation.

“The government of Cameroon is to be commended for taking this step in saving the Cross River gorilla for future generations,” he said.

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*The Cross River Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla diehli) is a subspecies of the Western Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla) that can be found on the border between Nigeria and Cameroon, in both tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests. The Cross River Gorilla is the most endangered of the African apes, and is one of the world’s 25 most endangered primates according to the IUCN Primate Specialist Group.