Mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei), Uganda.
Image: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
At a glance
- IUCN category
- CR · Critically Endangered
- Animal group
- Mammals
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
Conservation overview
The eastern gorilla is the largest living primate, including the famous mountain gorilla subspecies. It is assessed as Critically Endangered.
It lives in close-knit family groups led by a dominant silverback male.
Range & habitat
Mountain and lowland forests of the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Poaching
- Civil unrest and habitat loss
- Disease
Why it matters
As a large, plant-eating ape that shapes its forest, the eastern gorilla is a flagship for protecting central Africa's threatened mountain and lowland forests.
Includes the mountain gorilla, whose closely monitored sub-population has shown localised recovery.
Gallery
Mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei) feeding.
Image: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Sources
Sources for Eastern Gorilla
- IUCN Red List — look up Eastern Gorilla (authoritative status)
- Animal Diversity Web
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between eastern and western gorillas?
Why is the eastern gorilla Critically Endangered?
Last updated: