Great apes

Primate family tree main and great and lesser apes

Primate family tree

Great apes

Lesser apes

The primates are in some ways one of the most successful families. It is true that many are now endangered, however, unfortunately, that is as a result of the run-away success of the most successful member of the primate family us! Having left the rainforests behind, we have been reducing their coverage dramatically over the last few centuries.

The sad thing, is that while we have pushed many of our closest cousins towards extinction, the loss of forests may well cost us dearly in the future as well. As a species, we need to pull together to meet this challenge. in order to jump to the various families, click on the family of interest above – though all can also be reached by scrolling down.

Range Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda

Eastern Lowland gorilla

Mountain Gorilla

Western lowland gorilla

Cross river gorilla

Great ape Family split is thought to have split from its nearest relative – the gibbon family, around 17 million years ago.

4 million years later the Orangutan family split from the gorilla line and the human/chimp line.

3 million years after this (so around 10 million years ago) the gorilla family split from the Homo (humans) and Pan

Finally the human line (homo) split from the Pan line 5-6 million years ago.

It should be noted, that chimpanzees and Bonobos split from a common ancestor just 1.8 million years ago. This occurred as the two populations ceased to be able to have contact with each other – the Congo rive formed between 1.5 and 2 million years ago.

For more information on each species, click on their photo and this will take you to their page

It should be noted that while I have grouped eastern western and skywalker gibbon together, there is some contention that the skywalker gibbon should be in its own genus, having diverged around half a million years aog

Gibbons

siamang gibbon genus Symphalangus

hookock gibbon (Eastern, Western and Skywalker) Genus Hoolock

genus Normascus (crested gibbon)

Genus Hylobates (dward gibbons) Agile gibbon

Genus Nomascus

This family is the Genus: Nomascus or crested gibbon.

Black crested gibbon

Eastern black crested gibbon

Hanain black crested gibbon

Northern buffed gibbon

Norhtern white cheeked gibbon

Southern white cheeked gibbon

Yellow cheeked gibbon

The last Genus of gibbons is Hylobates: dwarf gibbons.

Abbots (Western) grey gibbon

Agile gibbon

bornean white bearded gibbon

Eastern grey gibbon

kloss gibbon

lar gibbons male and female

Mullers grey gibbon

Pileated gibbon

Silvery gibbon

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).

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.

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 ……

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 ……

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.

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 ……

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 ……

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 ……

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 ……

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 ……

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. ……

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, ……

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 ……

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 ……

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% ……

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 ……

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 ……

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.

The Eastern gorilla (lowland)

The Eastern Gorilla, or Eastern lowland gorilla (as the Eastern gorilla subspecies is the mountain gorilla) is a species which makes its home only in lowland tropical rainforests in the eastern DRC. In the last 50 years, its range has almost halved, from 8,100 square miles—about the size of the state of Massachusetts— to about 4,600 square miles today. This subspecies may now occupy only 13% of its historical range.

Eastern Lowland gorilla

There are only about 5000 Eastern lowland gorillas left in the wild. While much of their numbers decrease over the last 50 years, has been as a result of a loss of habitat, their most immediate threat is currently, is that of the bushmeat trade. The area around their range is home to people with very little money. Tourism to this area, would likely greatly improve this issue and reduce the demand for Gorilla bush meat. Apart from the threat for the continued survival of this giant (alongside the mountain gorilla, this species is the largest great ape still living.

Any news articles will appear below, and links to allow travel to this region will be added below.

Chimpanzees and gorillas search each other out – “friends with benefits”

Tim
January 14, 2023

Recent studies have shown that it his highly beneficial to both species when these cross species friendships are made. Indeed, it is not merely a question of chance encounters, instead each species will actively search out the other. Benefits include protection from predators, increased social skills and finding fruiting trees.

Tim
May 15, 2022

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.

Tim
May 11, 2022

Tim
June 23, 2021

Tim
June 23, 2018

Tim
June 14, 2018

Cross-river Gorilla

Cross-river gorillas were originally discovered in 1904, however, in the decates that followed, it was thought that this animal had been hunted to extinction. It was rediscovered in the 1980s, but is incredibly endangered, with only 250-300 remaining. It should be noted, that this is considered a sub-species not a species in its own right – though it is still of great interest, and saving the few that still survive should be a high priority.

As can be expected, its range is very small, though it is hard to know if it ever had a far larger range. Its range is the small dot of light brown found on the map above the pink area.

As we make connections, these will be added below – to help you arrange your travel to see this rare animal

Species Watch: Cross river gorilla and western lowland gorilla

Tim
May 15, 2022

Tim
July 14, 2020

There are only thought to be around 300 cross rver gorillas left in the wild. It’s population is space between the far Western ocean of Nigeria and the portion of Cameroon just across the border. The cross river gorilla is a subspecies of the Western gorilla, what is separated by ran 300 km from its ……

Tim
February 25, 2022

Nigeria was once a wildlife rich country. Unfortunately as a country whose population has soared over the last few decades much of the wilderness has been lost. Afi River forest reserve in the eastern Nigeria cross river state is an forest corridor which connects small fragments of remaining gorilla habitat. However, this may well cease ……

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.

Tim
April 6, 2020

Humans have pushed the majority of wild primates into small spaces, where the total population might number only a thousand or far less.

Tim
May 11, 2022

Western lowland gorilla

Western lowland gorilla on nature background

The western gorilla is thought to number around 316,000 in the wild. However, this species is actually made up of two subspecies.

Most are simply known as the western lowland gorilla.

The other subspecies is the cross river gorilla, this only has around 200-300 members remaining in the wild. Click here to view the cross river gorilla page. You can see that their population only inhabits a small area.

Any links we get that will allow you to watch lowland gorillas will appear below the news section.

Species Watch: Cross river gorilla and western lowland gorilla

Tim
May 15, 2022

Tim
January 14, 2023

Tim
March 6, 2020

Equatorial Guinea lies on the west coast of Africa above Gabon. Sightings of the gorillas were made within the Monte Alen National Park. In the past gorillas with plentiful in this area that horrific poaching was thought to have eradicated them from this part of Africa.

Tim
May 11, 2022

Human beings

Human beings are part of this family tree. Whatever your position on creation/evolution it is undeniable that our genetics are closely related to the great apes. I am a Christina, however the genetics are clear – This should not cause a problem with a belief in creationism, but it is a fact, either way.

We are a fascinating species, but it is beyond the scope of this website.

Tapauli Orangutan

Tapanuli Orangutan

Orangutans are often animals high on the list that people wish to see one day. Orangutans are the only great ape that lives outside Africa. While fossils show that at one time, it was found on the mainland of Asia, the Orangutan is now restricted to the islands of Borneo and Sumatra.There are 3 species of Orangutan and their conservation status varies dramatically. The Orangutan was first scientifically described in 1779 by Dutch anatomist Petrus Camper.

You will find all the articles we have written on Orangutans below

As always, we hope to add many destinations for Orangutans in the near future, do get in touch if you wish to list somewhere in their range. These links will be added below the news sections as we make links.

Will the 8th great ape- the Tapanuli orangutan – survive the first 2 decades after being described?

Tim
May 2, 2023

It is just 5 years since the Tapanuli orangutan was described. Despite this Orangutan being restricted to an area of Northern Sumatra, it is more closely related to the Bornean Orangutan than the Sumatran one. This might be the clearest indication of how long this species has been separate from its cousins. The Tapanuli Orangutan …...

Tim
April 6, 2023

At first glance, you could look at this headline as good news – in most instances, wild animals do not start looking outside their habitat for places to live, unless there are too many and they are being forced out. However, they also start looking elsewhere when they struggle to find food where they are, …...

Tim
November 6, 2021

The Tapanuli Orangutan lives on Sumatra but are thought to be more closely related to Bornean Orangutans. Numbering around 800 members, they had a far wider ranging habitat until recently. They are now restricted to about 1000 square km – about 2.5% of their former range. What is harder, is that these Orangutans are not …...

Tim
August 21, 2020

I personally couldn’t see how an environmental check could make it through if the building of the dam, would completely eradicate one of the eight great apes on earth. However between the environmental challenges, the current ongoing pandemic and problems financing the project with many of the large world banks not keen to be associated …...

Tim
March 8, 2020

Indonesia is pressing ahead with its desire to build a dam in the Sumatran rainforest. Now when the Dam is filled and floods this vast area of rainforest, all the carbon currently stored in the trees will be released back into the air- either as carbon or as meeting due to the breakdown of the …...

Tim
March 4, 2020

A recent analysis has shown that the the Dam that would cover 90% of the Tapanuli orangutan population has had the prospects of positive outcomes hugely hyped by it’s backers, and minimising negative facts about the Dam have been buried. The region is already well connected to the grid with almost all Communities already served. …...

Sumatran Orangutan

Orangutans are often animals high on the list that people wish to see one day. Orangutans are the only great ape that lives outside Africa.

While fossils show that at one time, it was found on the mainland of Asia, the Orangutan is now restricted to the islands of Borneo and Sumatra. The Orangutan was first scientifically described in 1779 by Dutch anatomist Petrus Camper. This page is devoted to the Orangutans of Sumatra.

As with all great apes, the Orangutan is a keystone species and by saving its habitat, we save many thousands more as a by-product. The greatest threat has been palm oil plantations – while in theory these are created to reduce carbon emissions, it is questionable as to whether these plantations could ever be carbon negative. Building it on land that has to be cleared of rainforest, means that these palm oil plantations will have huge carbon footprints, which are likely to take over a century to pay off. As such it is not useful for climate change mitigation.
The orangutans of Sumatra are classed as critically endangered.

They are currently thought to number around 14,000. As always, we hope to add many destinations for Orangutans in the near future, do get in touch if you wish to list somewhere in their range. Below, any listings that might get added in the future, you will find all the articles we have written on Orangutans.

The Borneo and Sumatran Orangutans were only recognized as separate species in 1996

An arrested Sumatran politician – arrested for bribery, was found to have a pet Orangutan among a group of other exotic pets

Tim
March 4, 2022

There is a great deal of corruption in many parts of the world. In many places politicians are almost expected to give themselves extra benefits – indeed those who do not, are often quite notable for standing out. In this case, after arresting the politician his house was raided, when the animals were found.

Tim
May 2, 2023

Tim
November 25, 2020

The leuser ecosystem on the island of Sumatra, is home to a fascinating range of animals, not found together anywhere else. In particular, this ecosystem supports tigers orangutans elephants and rhino. While these traps are sometimes set for trophy animals such as those above, they are more often set for smaller animals for bush meat. …...

Tim
August 21, 2020

Tim
July 20, 2023

One of the problems with cutting down rainforest, it often what is left is so fragmented that it is useless for conservation. Remaining blocks of forest must allow a viable population of the rarest creatures, in order for the animals not to need to travel outside protected areas. In Borneo, like in Sumatra, there has …...

Tim
April 30, 2023

The wildlife of Indonesia now often looks like relatively unique to those islands. This is not the natural state of affairs. 60,000 years ago, a cousin of the orangutan lived on the mainland. Unfortunately, what appears clear, is that humans were responsible for the extinction of these animals as with so many more. There are …...

Tim
May 11, 2022

Tim
January 11, 2022

This proposal would mean that Indonesia could cut down all its rainforest and replace them with Palm Oil, and would have engaged in zero deforestation. This has to be condemned globally, There are myriad problems with this. The destruction of the rainforest would release billions of tonnes of carbon into the air. Palm oil, will …...

Tim
August 15, 2020

It is unfortunately true that at the moment there is a great deal of effort by unscrupulous scientists that undermine well known facts.

Tim
March 8, 2020

June 26, 2021July 1, 2022

The Grauers Gorilla population is twice as big as thought! Out of the woods? Not so fast

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.

Grauer Gorilla: less endangered than thought but still close to extinction

Continue reading “The Grauers Gorilla population is twice as big as thought! Out of the woods? Not so fast”