Adopt a Gorilla
E-cards
Conservation Firsthand
Travel
SUPPORT WWF
Mountain Gorilla
Gorillas on volcanoes
Common Name: Mountain gorilla;
Gorille de montagne (Fr); (Sp)
Scientific Name: Gorilla beringei beringei
Habitat: Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
Location: Central Africa
Population: Approximately 700 individuals
Background
© WWF / Roger HOOPER
Around 700 mountain gorillas survive in the wild, split almost evenly between two locations: the Virunga range of volcanic mountains on the borders of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda and Uganda, and in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda. Some primatologists believe the Bwindi gorillas may be a separate subspecies.
In the 100 years since its discovery, this subspecies of eastern gorilla has endured uncontrolled hunting, war, disease, destruction of their forest habitat, and capture for the illegal pet trade. These factors led to a dramatic decline in numbers. Indeed, there were fears that the mountain gorilla would become extinct in the same century it was discovered.
With the alarm raised, dedicated conservation initiatives have ensured that mountain gorilla numbers are now slowly increasing.
WWF on the ground
© WWF / Roger HOOPER
WWF's 30 years of work to save the mountain gorilla and its forest habitat in the cloud-shrouded mountains in the very heart of Africa represents one of its longest-running flagship species programmes. Early gorilla surveys and aid to protected areas in the Albertine Rift ecoregion started in the 1970s. In 1991, the effort evolved into today's International Gorilla Conservation Programme (IGCP), a joint initiative of the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF), Fauna and Flora International (FFI), and WWF.
Physical Description
The mountain gorilla has longer hair, jaws and teeth than the lowland subspecies, but slightly shorter arms. Adult males grow a patch of silver hair on their back and hips, which has earned them the name 'silverback'.
Size
Mountain gorillas are generally larger than other subspecies. On average, adult males weigh 160 kg, and adult females 98 kg.
Habitat
Major habitat type
Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
Biogeographic realm
Afrotropical
Range States
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda, Uganda
Geographical Location
Central Africa
Ecological Region
Albertine Rift Montane Forest
Danger Watch
A species relative risk of extinction, as determined by the IUCN - The World Conservation Union. More
-
Extinct
No reasonable doubt that the last individual has died.
-
Extinct in the Wild
Known only to survive in cultivation, in captivity or as a naturalized population.
-
Critically Endangered
Facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
-
Endangered
Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
-
Vulnerable
Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
-
Near Threatened
Likely to qualify for a threatened category in the near future.
-
Least Concern
Does not qualify for Critically Endangered, Endagnered, Vulnerable or Near Threatened
Related Information
Species News and Updates
WWF Experts
Dr. Richard Carroll
Managing Director
Congo Basin
"My 50-year goal is to see happy communities where poaching and unsustainable logging are eliminated and elephants can live a full life."
Wave Forward
-- Hear from WWF marine experts on our ocean blog-- Discover Your Inner Fish
-- Want to buy sustainable fish for dinner? Learn what to look for.
Take Action
Take action through WWF's Conservation Action Network, where you can speak out for wildlife and wild places around the globe.
Read more
Free T-Shirt With Donation
Make a gift to help protect the future of nature today and we'll send you a free "Hotter than I should be" t-shirt that you can proudly wear to demonstrate your support of WWF.