Gorillas face many threats in their daily lives, but what threats do gorillas face exactly? Mountain gorillas are among the most sought-after primates that primarily dwell within the Virunga region, an area spanning three East African countries: Uganda, Rwanda, and the D.R. Congo. A significant number are also found in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a prime gorilla habitat in southern Uganda.
There are currently only 1,000 mountain gorillas left in the wild, up from just 500 in 2003. Despite this rapid increase in their numbers, mountain gorillas remain on the verge of extinction if not properly conserved. A number of threats, mostly human, continue to conflict with these mighty apes, especially regarding habitat loss and poaching. Below are some of the threats that continue to endanger the survival of mountain gorillas:
Habitat Loss
Human encroachment by communities living in and around gorilla habitats has posed a major threat to their survival. These communities continue to engage in uncontrolled activities such as charcoal burning, logging, mining, and subsistence farming. The only way to save gorilla habitats is for governments and conservationists to develop alternative economic activities to improve community livelihoods, rather than competing with gorillas for the same resources.
Human-Gorilla Conflicts
Many gorilla habitats border farmlands, leading to conflicts where gorillas escape into neighboring farms and damage crops. This tension has escalated as communities view gorillas as threats, especially when no compensation is provided for crop damage by government bodies. In retaliation, people sometimes kill mountain gorillas through poisoning or using snares. Enclosures constructed in gorilla habitats have helped mitigate this issue.
Poaching for Bush Meat or Pet Trade
Mountain gorillas are targeted for bush meat, considered a luxury in some regions, and are also illegally captured for the pet trade. This practice is prevalent in Eastern Congo’s Virunga National Park, an area often controlled by militia groups. In some parts of Asia, gorilla body parts are used in traditional medicine, further endangering their population.
Political Conflicts
Ongoing conflicts in Eastern D.R. Congo have severely impacted mountain gorilla populations in Virunga National Park, along with endangering rangers, guides, and conservation efforts. The influx of refugees during the 1994 Rwandan genocide led to extensive forest clearing for farming, significantly reducing the gorilla population in Volcanoes National Park.
Diseases
Mountain gorillas are vulnerable to diseases spread by humans, such as coughs, flu, and other airborne illnesses, due to their weak immune systems. Tourists are required to maintain a distance of 7 meters from gorillas during trekking to minimize this risk. Ebola outbreaks in Central Africa have also posed recent threats to mountain gorillas.
Despite recent conservation efforts resulting in a 24% increase in the mountain gorilla population in the Virunga region according to a 2018 census, more efforts are needed to protect the remaining wild gorillas. Conservation strategies should include trans-boundary collaboration, community-tourism relationships, anti-poaching initiatives, ranger-based monitoring, and habitat protection and expansion.
