Reasons Why Mountain Gorillas Were Endangered

Why are mountain gorillas endangered? What threats do they face? Below are some of the reasons why mountain gorillas are endangered and the threats they face:

Habitat loss: Human activities like farming, deforestation, settlement, and industrial development have taken over the natural homes of mountain gorillas. This forces them to live in higher elevations, where the cold weather can cause illnesses such as pneumonia, making it harder for them to survive.
Disease: Mountain gorillas can catch human diseases like the flu, scabies, and pneumonia. The more people come close to gorillas, the higher the chance of passing diseases to them. That’s why visitors are advised to keep an 8-meter distance during gorilla trekking. Gorillas do not have strong immunity to fight off diseases. Ebola is one of the serious diseases that also affects them.
Poaching: Sometimes gorillas get trapped in snares set for other animals like small antelopes. They have also been hunted for trophies, even though they cannot live in zoos or survive in captivity. Mountain gorillas can only live well in the high forests.
Pet trade: Some people try to catch gorillas and sell them as pets to foreigners who keep them in homes or private zoos. But gorillas do not do well in such places and often die soon after being taken from the wild.
Bush-meat: Some people believe gorilla meat is special and sell it in markets. In areas with fighting or militia groups, gorilla meat is sometimes eaten as a way to survive when there is no other food.
Traditional medicine: In some cultures, traditional healers and magicians believe that parts of gorillas’ bodies can be used for charms. They kill gorillas to get these body parts. However, there is no science that proves these charms work.
Oil and gas exploration: In Virunga National Park in Congo, some European oil and gas companies have been given rights to explore. This puts gorillas in danger, as more mining can lead to more people entering the park, which increases poaching. Virunga is one of only four parks in the world where mountain gorillas live.
Political and civil unrest: Political problems, especially in the Democratic Republic of Congo, continue to threaten gorillas. During the 1990s, when refugees entered the parks, many gorillas were killed for meat. Some people believe gorilla meat tastes good and continue to hunt them.