They are endangered from habitat loss, poaching, and war. The Forest that Gorillas have Made November 3, 2020 General Big Gorilla Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in southwestern Uganda, just on the border with the … Mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) live in three countries in central Africa: Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Mountain gorillas are found in moist and cool mountain climate in Rwanda, Uganda and Zaire. Mountain gorillas are a subspecies of eastern gorilla (Gorilla beringei). Why are Mountain Gorillas Endangered? Another reason why mountain gorillas are endangered is poaching. Why are mountain gorillas endangered? In the past, mountain gorillas were ranked as critically endangered due to their very small population size (fewer than 250 mature individuals, which is the criteria for critically endangered), high levels of threats, and declining numbers. This is the reason why travelers are encouraged to keep seven meters away from the endangered gorillas to the spread of diseases. FEATURED VIDEO STORIES. Why Mountain Gorillas Are Endangered, and What’s Being Done to Help Them. Humans are pushing mountain gorillas out of the wild and into extinction. They are almost extinct because of a lot of human factors that are a threat to their existence. Also, travelers are advised to turn back their faces when sneezing to avoid the spread of germs to the endangered gorillas. Mountain gorillas mostly survive on plants like thistle, nettles, celery, and bamboo. Status: Critically Endangered Scientific Name: Gorilla beringei beringei Number Left: Around 800 Size: Up to 400 pounds As their name implies, mountain gorillas live high in the mountains of Africa, specifically the Congo Basin, in elevations of 8,000 to 13,000 feet. As their name hints, they live in the mountains at elevations between 8,000 and 13,000 feet. Why Mountain Gorillas Endangered – Mountain Gorilla Conservation The mountain gorilla is one of the subspecies of the eastern gorilla. Why Gorillas are an Endangered Species. Giants of the Forest. Eastern Lowland Gorilla (Gorilla beringei graueri): Endangered species. Only about 1,000 of these great apes remain in the wild, according to the most recent census. The mountain gorillas are endangered species because of the civil wars that have been raging the forests. Though mountain gorillas have steadily been increasing in number, the population is still threatened with extinction. At the Fossey Fund, we recognize that to protect the endangered mountain gorillas of Rwanda and the critically endangered Grauer’s gorillas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, we need the support of the human communities that share this space. Mountain Gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei): Critically Endangered Species. They are threatened by traps and snares that are set out to capture antelopes for wild meat. In Rwanda, with the help of the traditional skill of the Hottentots and Bushmen, the mountain gorillas have been trained to be calm and friendlier to humans. Mountain gorillas were discovered in 1902, and are one of the two species of eastern gorilla, the other being the eastern lowland gorilla. Siena tells us about one teen and her Dad who are trying to help the endangeredmountain gorillas in Africa. Why are gorillas poached? Why are Mountain Gorillas endangered? These endangered primates live in central Africa; in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo in particular. Mountain gorillas remain a critically endangered species in urgent need of protection. Show More. As far as mountain gorillas being hunted for meat, this is very rare if not impossible. For this reason, the mountain gorilla is listed as endangered by the IUCN. The mountain gorilla, frequently referred to as the gentle giant of the ape family, has dwindled in population at a dangerously fast rate. Why are mountain gorillas endangered – The mountain gorillas are one of the fascinating giant creatures that are found in the high altitude mountain regions of Uganda, DR-Congo and Rwanda. Below are some of the reasons why mountain gorillas are endangered and the threats they face as well. Although mountain gorillas have few natural predators, the continued threat from human activity like poaching, habitat loss and civil wars, these great apes have become one of the most endangered types of primates. why are mountain gorillas endangered in Africa – Many Gorillas are being poached for the purpose of traditional medicine used by the traditional healers and the witch doctors where by, they use the Gorilla body parts for charms thus causing a threat to the life of the Gorilla. It’s very amazing to discover the giants of the jungle.u . Why are Mountain Gorillas endangered, Mountain Gorillas are considered endangered species, they are the largest primates sharing 98% DNA with human beings. When it comes to mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei), the word endangered is usually connected due to their status. Although the work of Dian Fossey helped eliminate poaching and secure funding for gorilla conservation programmes, the number of mountain gorillas has just reached 1,000 from 250 in the 1980’s. Mountain gorillas are poached for so many reasons and we look at a number of them in this article. Mountain Gorilla Threats Habitat loss. Mountain gorillas are one of the most endangered animals in the world. We aim at increasing conservation coverage of the endangered mountain gorillas, and amplifying local voices in the international debate about mountain Gorillas protection. Read more. Gorillas are categorized into two distinct species namely; the western gorillas and the eastern gorillas. And the traps set for these animals end up killing gorillas. Conservation Cross River Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla diehli): Critically Endangered Species. They almost got extinct in the 19 th century and based on the mountain gorilla poaching statistics, so many gorillas had lost their lives in the hands of poachers. In this lesson, discover these giants of the jungle and why they are endangered. The mountain gorillas are Rare and Endangered which is has been as a result of the human threatening Factors towards their existence in their natural habitat. In the areas where they live, there are other small mammals that are hunted for meat. Scientists now estimate, there are only 600 individuals left. Mountain Gorilla Conservation and Current Threats. Mountain gorillas can be said to be the most endangered animal in this world. Although they are still vulnerable to human disturbances, the mountain gorilla numbers have gradually increased through years of intensive conservation efforts. Habitat loss is one reason why mountain gorillas are endangered today. Their entire world consists of 285 square miles of high-elevation rain forest in east-central Africa. Why Mountain Gorillas are Endangered. Mountain Gorillas are found in the forest of Africa only in three countries Uganda, Democratic Republican of Congo and Rwanda. The mountain gorilla is a subspecies of the Eastern gorilla, which is only found in two high-altitude forested areas - the Virunga volcanic regions of Central Africa and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda. Why Gorillas are an Endangered Species: Despite the fact that gorillas are highly sought after by tourists on a safari in Africa, they are some of the most endangered species in the world today according to the ICUN Red List. Rarely, they are poached for live animal trade. Both are classified as critically endangered, but with a population of only 880 recorded in 2016 the mountain gorilla is considered to be most at risk. Why Mountain Gorillas Endangered – Mountain Gorilla Conservation The mountain gorilla is one of the subspecies of the eastern gorilla. The biggest threats to this endangered great ape's survival come from political instability, human encroachment, and forest degradation. Likewise, the mountain gorillas have been declared endangered species. Mountain gorillas can catch human respiratory diseases like Covid-19. They are a subspecies of eastern gorillas, and as their name implies, they live in the high mountains at elevations of 8,000 to 13,000ft. The last gorilla census in 2018 found that about 1,004 mountain gorillas still roam the planet. One of the reasons why mountain gorillas are given so much attention is because they cannot survive in captivity like the lowland gorillas. Scientists estimate that there are about 600 individuals, living in 2 populations of about 300 each, separated by about 20 miles. Roger de la Harpe/Universal Images Group via Getty Images There are around 1,000 mountain gorillas … It is listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, as its population consists of 1,004 individuals in two populations as of 2018.