Endangered Animal #3: Mountain Gorilla

Hien Nguyen
Jul 20, 2017 · 3 min read
Figure 1

Animal Description

Mountain Gorillas are herbivore mammals, as their name implies, mountain gorillas can be only found at high altitudes (2,500–4,000 m). There are only four national parks in the world that have them, which are Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Volcanoes National Park, and Virunga National Park. Mountain Gorillas live in group or troop up to 30 individuals, a troop is led by a single alpha male, an older silverback. The males are called silverback because of the silver stripe they develop on their backs when they mature. These male gorillas are in charged of protecting group members, maintain order and decide all activities within their troop like feeding trips, resting time, travel, etc.

Role in ecosystem

Just like other wild animals, mountain gorillas play important role in their environment. By eating a lot of vegetation, they help balance in the food chain nature of their environment. If they are not doing that, it would negatively affect other wildlife and the people who live in the area.

A silverback is taking a stroll with his kids around the block to see some humans

Cause of decline

They are losing their habitat to humans since us humans have moved into areas near mountain gorillas and cleared land for our needs. As we are living super close to them, we are bringing human disease to them, which is one of the cause of their deaths. Poaching is also another big threat to the population of mountain gorillas.

Conservation efforts

In Virunga National Park, IGCP and WWF are working in collaboration with the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN), and help raising awareness to the local, reforestation projects, and increase the number of anti-poaching patrols in the park.

How can you help?

If you want to save our long lost cousins and Harambe’s brothers and sisters please join or donate money to one of these organizations.

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