Mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei), Bwindi, Uganda.
Image: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
At a glance
- IUCN category
- EN · Endangered
- Animal group
- Mammals
- Population trend
- Increasing
- Last verified
Conservation overview
The mountain gorilla is a subspecies of the eastern gorilla living in high African forests. It is assessed as Endangered — and is one of the few great apes whose numbers have been rising.
It has longer, thicker fur than other gorillas, suited to cold mountain conditions.
Range & habitat
High forests of the Virunga volcanoes and Bwindi, in Rwanda, Uganda, and the DR Congo.
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 and snares
- Disease caught from people
- Habitat loss and civil unrest
Why it matters
A rare conservation bright spot among great apes, the mountain gorilla shows how tourism revenue, anti-poaching, and health care can rebuild a population.
Sources
Sources for Mountain Gorilla
- IUCN Red List — look up Mountain Gorilla (authoritative status)
- Animal Diversity Web
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the mountain gorilla's recovery notable?
How is it different from other gorillas?
Last updated: