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Western lowland gorilla
photo: WWF-Canon / Michel GUNTHER |
Of the four subspecies, the western lowland gorilla is the most numerous and widespread, with a population of approximately 94,000, but recent surveys indicate a decline of up to 56 percent across their range, due to poaching and disease. In areas hard hit by the Ebola virus, over 90 percent of great apes have been killed.
These gorillas are a subspecies of the western gorilla and range from southern Cameroon, the southwest corner of the Central African Republic, west Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and southwards towards the Cabinda enclave of Angola. The forests of Gabon are currently considered to harbor the majority of the population, but it is possible that unsurveyed areas of Congo may contain similar numbers. Due to the nature of their habitat (thick rainforests) it is difficult to obtain an accurate count of lowland gorillas, requiring a reliance on estimates. All gorillas found in zoos are lowland gorillas.
Population Estimates and Distribution
Population: 94,000 (although estimate is being revised)
Distribution: Cameroon, Republic of Congo, CAR, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Angola
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