Mountain Gorilla
The mountain gorilla is a sub-species of the Eastern Lowland gorilla. It is isolated on two sets of mountains, they are only a few hundred miles apart, but given the space between their populations is one of the most dense human habitation in Africa, reconnecting these habitats will not be possible in the near future.
Mountain gorillas are very similar to eastern lowland gorillas, though as they have 8 inch hair all over their body, they look far larger.
Currently, there are 1063 mountain gorillas in the wild, split between their two reserves. This does not sound high, but has doubled since the 1980s when each reserve only had around 250 individuals. They are nowhere close to fully recovering, but it is questionable whether their two homes can support more gorillas than currently live there.
GOOD NEWS: Tigers and mountain gorillas rebounding in their native habitats
- Tim
- August 10, 2020
There are few bits of positive news in the world of conservation so those that come up must be celebrated. At world conservation day recently, they were celebrating the recovery of mountain gorillas and tigers (particularly Indian tigers).
As the number of mountain gorillas passes above 1000 for the first time in a very long time we have to worry about their future survival
- Tim
- May 24, 2020
Recent census of the Mountain gorillas between the two remaining areas of habitat counted 1063, a number that has risen from perhaps only 350 in the 1980s. The idea of a critically endangered growing by 300% in population size in only 40 years is incredible.
Three endangered mountain gorillas killed by lightning strike
- Tim
- February 17, 2020
Mountain gorillas live in a small patch of montane, rainforest in Central Africa. Being a mountainous region there are naturally dangers and unfortunately 3 mountain gorillas, succumbed to one of these dangers recently. They were killed by a lightning strike. The mountain gorilla population does currently stand at around 1000 members having grown by almost ……
Species Watch: Cross river gorilla and western lowland gorilla
- Tim
- May 15, 2022
The cross River gorilla (picture above) is a critically endangered subspecies of the Western lowland gorilla species. The cross River gorilla are scattered in at least 11 groups across the lowland montane forests and rainforests of Cameroon and Nigeria, an area of 3,000 square miles, or a little smaller than Puerto Rico. There are only ……
The Grauers Gorilla population is twice as big as thought! Out of the woods? Not so fast
- Tim
- June 26, 2021
The Grauers gorilla, also known as the Eastern lowland gorilla (confusingly often found in the mountains, just not exclusively as the mountain gorilla is) is a close relative of the mountain gorilla.
Species watch
- Tim
- May 11, 2022
I am intending to make this into a new set of articles that will appear on this website. Obviously, these species will not be the only ones that are covered – for those who read this website regularly, you will know that I talk about a wide range of species. The species that I am ……
Bwindi impenetrable forest threatened by road plans
- Tim
- April 26, 2022
Ugandan authorities are considering two roads that will pass through Bwindi. These roads are likely to have two devastating impacts. Firstly, these roads are likely to splinter the park from the connected park across the border in the DCR. As with the proposed Serengeti road, neither side of the road is big enough for large ……
What will the Ukraine war have on wildlife?
- Tim
- March 12, 2022
I do not know how many of my readers follow current affairs closely, though I follow them. Are wars good for wildlife, or are they bad? Unfortunately, it completely depends. I suspect that on the whole, it depends on the wildlife in question. Several times during wars, it was thought that the European bison had ……
Gains in the Virunga national park of the DRC are encouraging but threats continue
- Tim
- October 20, 2021
For the last 3 years there has been a significant baby boom in the forests of the Virungas. This is highly encouraging for the long term survival of the mountain gorillas that live here. Unfortunately many threats remain. Parts of the park are potentially about to be reclassified for mining, and there are invading armed ……
Will climate change kill the forests of Africa?
- Tim
- July 20, 2021
There are many threats facing the great apes of Africa, from habitat destruction and fragmentation, to hunting for bush meat. Unfortunately, it is now thought that Chimpanzees gorillas and Bonobos face a still greater threat (assuming humans avoid killing off what remains of their population) the loss of about 94% of their remaining habitat due ……
Spike in illegal deforestation in the Virunga’s national park
- Tim
- June 23, 2021
Home to one of the two remaining populations of mountain gorillas as well as eastern lowland gorillas and chimpanzees. It is one of the best protected central African rainforest, yet satellite imagery shows significant amounts of deforestation. In April last year, 12 Virunga rangers and 5 civilians were killed in clashes over this environmental destruction. ……
The virungas national park continues to be dangerous for rangers
- Tim
- February 5, 2021
6 more rangers have been killed in the Virunga national park on the border between the DRC Uganda and Rwanda. Likely, currently one of the most dangerous places to try to protect wildlife – many rangers have been killed over the years. Lying where 3 countries meet; Democratic republic of the Congo, Rwanda and Burundi, ……
Review: extinction: the facts
- Tim
- September 30, 2020
In recent years the BBC has stopped trying to cover over the threat to the natural world in their world famous documentaries. This once as you can see, deals with the fact that there are so many species currently threatened with extinction on earth- and virtually all are our fault either directly through hunting and ……
In a human crisis the Natural World often does incredibly well
- Tim
- April 10, 2020
It would appear that corvid 19 has had a phenomenal good impact on the Worlds atmosphere. The fact that significant portions of of China have been under lockdown has meant that the factories are closed down. Satellite pictures of these places show significantly less pollution then is normally the case. Similar impacts can be seen ……
Animals moving away from extinction
- Tim
- February 7, 2019
The mountain gorilla and the fin whale have been reassessed and their conservation status had been found to not accurately show their position. In the case of mountain gorillas, this is understandable. In 2008 the mountain gorilla population numbered approximately 680, the most recent number was around 1000. That is an increase of roughly 50% ……
China’s plan for a huge panda reserve
- Tim
- June 23, 2018
China is in the process of creating a huge panda reserve covering 10,476 square miles. This reserve is three times the size of Yellowstone National Park in the USA. With all of the work saving the panda in China, it is surprising that the first reintroduction attempt was only 2006. Since then seven more have ……
Virunga National Park to close for two years
- Tim
- June 14, 2018
Virunga National Park the oldest national park in Africa is going to close to the public for two years after the most recent attack killed 12 guards as well as abducting two British tourists. Over 180 Rangers have been killed in the Virungas over the last two decades including six in the most recent attack ……
A tiny reserve in Nigeria has been shown to be full of wildlife
- Tim
- November 5, 2021
Afi mountain wildlife Sanctuary is tiny, covering only 38.6 square miles, yet analysis has shown that this reserve has a whole host of wildlife.