Mountain gorillas came dangerously close to extinction. These apes are the world’s largest primates, inhabiting the mountainous slopes of the Virunga Ranges and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda.
Their thick, long fur aids their survival at higher altitudes.
So, why were mountain gorillas on the brink of extinction?
There are numerous reasons for this, and some of them will be explained during your gorilla trekking safaris.
Habitat loss
Habitat loss is the most common reason why gorillas were becoming extinct.
Deforestation and forest degradation by humans for settlement and industrial use have caused mountain gorillas to lose their natural habitats, leaving them with no option but to move to higher elevations.
These higher altitudes are dangerous for their health due to cold temperatures that can lead to diseases like pneumonia.
Poaching
Poaching is still one of the reasons why mountain gorillas were going extinct.
While some locals poach gorillas and sell their meat to wealthy individuals who enjoy bushmeat, others poach them for personal consumption to feed their families.
Diseases
Disease outbreaks, such as Ebola in gorilla families, have also contributed to the decline of mountain gorillas.
These primates have a very low birth rate, and, unfortunately, they lack the necessary immune system to fight these diseases.
Disease outbreaks often lead to death, further reducing the mountain gorilla population.
Illegal pet trade
Some locals are given significant sums of money by foreigners to poach mountain gorillas.
Some of these foreigners own private animal zoos.
In many cases, they take their catch, forgetting that these apes cannot survive at lower altitudes.
Some even use gorillas as pets, drastically reducing their lifespan.
This has partly led to the extinction of mountain gorillas.
Predators
Mountain gorillas normally don’t have any natural predators, except for leopards, which have a preference for gorilla meat.
Mountain gorillas sometimes fall into traps set for other animals in the forest, such as bushbucks and antelopes.
These snares have injured many gorillas and even caused some to die.
Traditional medicine
Some local traditional healers believe that certain body parts of mountain gorillas have magical properties.
They kill mountain gorillas for their traditional rituals and benefits, contributing to their decline.
Killing of gorillas for trophies
Some people kill mountain gorillas for prestige, displaying their remains as trophies to showcase their power.
Unfortunately, such individuals do not recognize the importance of mountain gorillas to the environment and local communities.
Silverbacks killing other males
Another uncommon reason for mountain gorillas becoming extinct is the fact that some Silverbacks fight each other to the death.
After triumphing in a challenge, Silverbacks often kill all the young males in their groups to prevent future challenges.
Additionally, Silverback gorillas may sustain severe injuries in fights that can lead to their deaths a few days later, making it challenging for their population to recover due to their low birth rates.
Mountain gorillas are herbivorous animals that primarily feed on vegetation.
Occasionally, they balance their diet with ants, termites, and insects.
They live in social structures consisting of groups dominated by a silverback, who is often the oldest male gorilla.
