A conservation group has captured the first images of rare Cross River gorillas with their babies.

一个保护组织首次抓拍到稀有的克罗斯河大猩猩与其幼崽在一起的照片。

Scientists once feared that this rare kind of gorilla had disappeared from existence.

科学家们一度担心这种稀有大猩猩已经灭绝了。

But, the images show it is reproducing as efforts to protect the animal continue.

但是，这些照片显示，由于人们对克罗斯河大猩猩的努力保护，这种动物还在繁殖。

The Wildlife Conservation Society, or WCS, had placed cameras in an area of Nigeria's Mbe mountains, where the Cross River gorillas live.

野生动物保护协会（WCS）在尼日利亚Mbe山脉的一个区域放置了摄像机，那里是克罗斯河大猩猩的栖息地。

The organization recently released the images, which were taken in May.

该组织最近公布了这些五月份拍摄的照片。

The camera captured images of Cross River gorilla adults and babies.

摄像机拍下了成年克罗斯河大猩猩及幼崽的照片。

A statement on the group's website describes Cross River gorillas as "the most threatened ape in Africa."

该组织网站上的一份声明称，克罗斯河大猩猩是“非洲最受威胁的猿类”。

These gorillas live in a small mountainous area at the beginning of the River Cross, along the border between Nigeria and Cameroon.

这些大猩猩生活在尼日利亚和喀麦隆边境的克罗斯河起点处的一个小山区。

Only around 300 Cross River gorillas were known to be alive in the area, noted WCS.

野生动物保护协会指出，该地区已知存活着的克罗斯河大猩猩只有大约300只。

Although illegal hunting is common in the area, the Cross River gorilla is rarely a target of such activity, says WCS.

野生动物保护协会说，尽管非法捕猎在该地区很常见，但克罗斯河大猩猩却很少成为这种活动的目标。

But hunters often use animal traps that represent a threat to the gorilla's survival.

但是捕猎者经常设计动物陷阱，那会威胁到克罗斯河大猩猩的生存。

John Oates is a former professor at the City University of New York and a primatologist.

约翰·奥茨是前纽约城市大学教授和灵长类动物学家。

He helped establish conservation efforts for the gorillas more than 20 years ago.

20多年前，他帮助组织了保护克罗斯河大猩猩的的活动。

"It was great to see evidence that these gorillas in these mountains are reproducing successfully,

“很高兴看到有证据表明，生活在这些山里的克罗斯河大猩猩能够成功繁殖，

because there have been so few images in the past," he told The Associated Press.

因为过去很少有这样的照片，”他告诉美联社。

"We know very little about what is going on with reproduction with this subspecies,

“我们对这个亚种的繁殖情况知之甚少，

so to see many young animals is a positive sign."

所以看到这么多年幼的克罗斯河大猩猩是一个积极的信号。”

I'm John Russell.

约翰·拉塞尔为您播报。