Around 80 percent of gorillas live outside protected zones, where demand for raw materials accelerates habitat loss. The World Wildlife Fund notes a troubling annual mortality rate among specimens, highlighting the pressure on remaining populations.
In conjunction with World Gorilla Day on Saturday, September 24, the NGO draws attention to the central threats facing the roughly 360,000 gorillas still roaming the planet. Deforestation driven by timber extraction, expansion of farmland, mining, and the search for oil and gas; along with ongoing poaching, are eroding their habitats and populations. There are reports that some individuals are sold secretly for meat, moving through illicit markets and even appearing in upscale venues.
The NGO condemns the trafficking of young gorillas and the hunting of adults, actions that fuel the illegal meat trade and clandestine markets. There are troubling claims that adult males are hunted for ritual purposes, and disturbing items fashioned from gorilla parts appear in specialty markets and even certain novelty goods.
gorillas are believed to exist in several distinct populations. There are about 360,000 individuals distributed across two main species and four subspecies in Central Africa. The western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla) remains the most numerous, inhabiting the forests of West and Central Africa, while the Cross River gorilla is numbered in the hundreds and is categorized as Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Grauer’s eastern gorilla (Gorilla beringei graueri) has suffered a severe decline, losing more than 70 percent of its population in the past quarter-century. Meanwhile, the mountain gorilla, with just over a thousand individuals, survives in a few protected mountain ranges within Bwindi, Virunga, and the Volcanoes National Parks. These figures underscore the precarious status of several subspecies and the critical need for sustained protection.
On World Gorilla Day the NGO highlights its ongoing campaign against illegal trade and the exploitation of gorilla meat and offspring. The effort emphasizes conservation and sustainable practices among local communities, habitat restoration, and the creation of protected areas and ecological corridors. Training programs for tourism operators and reserve rangers are part of the broader strategy to support conservation.
Thanks to concerted efforts, mountain gorilla populations have begun to recover after decades of conflict and poaching. While challenges persist, protections and anti-poaching measures, along with community engagement, have helped stabilize certain groups. Recent estimates show incremental growth in some populations and the birth of new offspring in protected zones, signaling cautious optimism for the species.
Additional information on conservation initiatives and species status can be found through accredited wildlife authorities and conservation organizations that continue to monitor populations, habitats, and the impact of human activity on these iconic primates.
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