How many Gorillas are left in the world? Lets have a look! Gorillas are one of the most endangered animals today, and there are various reasons behind this. In the year of 2010, there were only 480 gorillas left in the world. Luckily the population increased to 604 when 124 newborns arrived in 2019. The clock is ticking for gorillas, and they find themselves teetering on the brink of extinction due to habitat degradation and diseases that have ravaged their populations in recent decades. Their status is now critically endangered, demanding our immediate attention. The stark reality is that unless we take swift action, gorillas could vanish within our own lifetimes.
The Mighty Gorilla
In this discussion, we’ll delve into the impending threat of extinction facing these remarkable mammals, examine the current gorilla population figures, and assess the likelihood of their survival. So, without delay, let’s delve into the critical details.
Gorilla Species Found Around The Globe
Humans and gorillas have 98% of the same genetic material. You can say that they are one of humans’ closest cousins and the largest ape. When talking about species, we can classify them into Eastern and Western Gorillas.
Eastern Gorillas
The Eastern gorillas can be found in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They are deemed to be the largest apes on the planet. The contemporary name for the Eastern lowland gorilla is the Grauer’s gorilla. According to estimations, only about 5,000 eastern gorillas are currently left in the world. We can classify Eastern gorillas into two subspecies, and those are;
1. Mountain Gorillas
In contrast to other primates, mountain gorillas have thick, long hair and fur that keeps them warm in the chilly climate on the mountain slopes. The continued expansion of humans in forests and mountainous areas puts mountain gorillas at risk of habitat destruction. Some are compelled to relocate farther up the chilly mountain slopes, which may be hazardous to their health.
2. Eastern Lowland Gorilla/Grauer’s Gorilla
Meet the heavyweight champion of the gorilla world—the eastern lowland gorilla. It stands out from the gorilla crowd with its beefy build, mighty mitts, and a snub nose. These gorillas call the lush lowland tropical rainforests of the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo home. Just like their gorilla cousins, these eastern lowland giants are big fans of fruits and greens. But here’s the twist: back in the mid-90s, there were around 17,000 of these magnificent creatures. Fast forward to today, and biologists are sounding the alarm, estimating a shocking 60% decline in their population.
Western Gorillas
The most prevalent species is the western gorilla. Unlike eastern gorillas, they have a different nose structure and a lighter skin tone. It is estimated that about 316,000 western gorillas are left living in the wild. Western lowland gorillas can be further divided into two subspecies, discussed below.
1. Western Lowland Gorilla
One of the two threatened species, subspecies of the western gorilla is the western lowland gorilla. The western lowland gorilla is a calm, non-aggressive species in danger of sickness and poaching. They knuckle-walk while crawling on all fours, bearing all their weight on their curled third and fourth fingers. Their arms are longer than their legs, and they are the smallest subspecies in the western lowland. Males are significantly bigger than females. Their habitat runs throughout the Congo Basin, including the Central African Republic, Gabon, Cameroon, Angola, and Congo.
2. Cross River Gorilla
This species, unknown to scientists until the early 20th century, is found deep in the highland rainforest of Cameroon and Nigeria, living among the bamboo thickets and the enormous Cross River. Despite having small changes in the size of the skull and teeth, this subspecies of the western gorilla looks pretty much similar to the more common western lowland gorilla. They can only be found in the wooded hills and mountains along the Nigerian border, with Cameroon at the Cross River’s headwaters. The male Cross River gorillas can grow 5 ft 8 in (175 cm) tall and weigh 450 lbs (200 kg). On the other hand, the females are a little smaller, standing 4 ft 7 in (140 cm) tall and weighing 220 lbs (100 kg).
Threats to Gorilla’s Survival
There were reportedly fewer than four-hundred mountain gorillas left in the world in the 1980s. The future of the gorilla was uncertain with their critically low population. Luckily, that number has increased to a little over a thousand due to conservation efforts. Today, there is a fair chance of growth of this species resulting from the efforts that have been underway over the last few decades. However, here’s a list of the most prominent threats that are the reasons causing their endangerment.
1. Poaching
Gorilla populations still found in the wild are seriously threatened by poaching for bushmeat. Their body parts are used in traditional medicines and magical charms, causing an extreme threat to the species. Due to their poor reproductive rate, gorillas are vulnerable to population collapse that could last for decades if relatively moderate levels of poaching are allowed to continue. Additionally, gorillas are regularly captured in traps meant for other forest animals. They are either killed or wounded as a result of illegal hunting.
2. Habitat Loss
Losing their habitat, for several different reasons, is another noticeable threat to the specie’s life. Unlike many other animals, gorillas are not adaptive to new habitats besides forests and mountains. The rapidly deteriorating gorilla habitat brought on by mining, commercial logging, subsistence farming, and road construction activities poses a serious threat to the remaining wild gorilla populations. Today, poachers have much easier access to previously inaccessible forest areas thanks to commercial logging, agriculture, and the developed transportation infrastructure. Likewise, these activities permit the use of vehicles to transport large quantities of bushmeat from the forest.
3. Disease
Ebola viral disease is a deadly, contagious illness that has decimated numerous populations of great apes in Africa. Ebola hemorrhagic disease epidemics have brought about large-scale ape deaths since the early 1990s. More than 90 percent of the 600 gorillas detected as having the virus died probably due to the virus between 2002 and 2003, and the infection claimed numerous human lives. Gorillas are prone to various human diseases because they share many characteristics with humans. The gorillas in the mountain gorilla region are prone to contracting scabies, TB, and other infections from human transmission since they routinely raid farms and interact with people through tourism.
4. No Strict Law Enforcement
It is against the law to kill gorillas or trade in their products throughout most of the animals’ range. Despite being illegal consumers, traders and poachers are often found guilty of trading illegally because of gaps in the capacity of local law enforcement. Making a law is not enough; authorities must strictly implement it; otherwise, it is of no benefit. So, another prominent reason for the specie’s endangerment relates to the overall governance in some of the areas where the gorillas reside.
5. Low Reproduction Rate
Unlike many other mammals, gorillas have a delayed reproductive process. They only have one baby at a time, raise it for several years, and then have another. Gorillas are particularly prone to population reductions because of their poor reproductive rate.
6. Forest Area Destruction
The fragmentation of forest regions has also resulted in the separation of gorilla populations. Furthermore, the construction of land mines in the forests has resulted in the deaths of many gorillas. Uncontrolled bushfires are another serious concern in the forest. Poachers frequently leave the fire as is after a bonfire, which frequently burns the entire region. It can also happen due to minor negligence, such as throwing a lighted cigarette in the bush.
How to Contribute to the Conservation of Gorillas?
Everyone can help save gorillas from extinction through simple actions. First, if you’re sick, avoid gorilla hikes to prevent transmitting diseases to these vulnerable animals. Second, consider donating to local conservation organizations that rely on contributions to protect gorillas effectively; ensure you research their impact. Third, refrain from buying items made from animal parts to discourage poaching and its harmful effects on ecosystems. Lastly, educate yourself about gorillas and wildlife conservation to reduce the exotic pet trade and foster greater awareness and care for endangered species. Every small action counts!
The Bottom Line
The plight of gorillas is urgent, with fewer than 101,500 remaining globally. This includes around 100,000 western lowland gorillas, 5,000 eastern lowland gorillas, 1,000 mountain gorillas, and fewer than 300 cross-river gorillas. However, there is hope: many conservation programs are actively working to save these species. By combating poaching for bushmeat, we can create a path for gorilla populations to recover in the future. The time to act is now, before these magnificent creatures disappear forever.
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