Critically Endangered - The Western Gorilla



 The Western Gorilla

5/16/2021


The western gorilla is a species of gorilla that is currently critically endangered. There is an estimated 100,000 of their kind left, between the two subspecies of gorillas that fall under this category, the western lowland gorilla, with around 95,000 of its kind, and the cross river gorilla with around 250 left.
 

Western lowland gorilla | Smithsonian's National Zoo


Western gorillas live in central to southern Africa, with the most dense population living in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They live in the tropical rainforests of these western African countries. They are technically omnivores, but their diet mainly consists of stems, bamboo shoots and fruits, while occasionally breaking open and or termite nests and feeding on the larvae. Due to this diet, they spread a lot of seeds from the food that they eat, playing a critical role in their ecosystem. 


 Gorilla SSP - Gorilla Species Distribution


From 1992 to 2011, the population decreased around 45% due to the Ebola Virus, that struck the species hard. Another reason for the decrease is poaching, deforestation, and a low reproductive rate at around 3%. Without gorillas, this is cause an even bigger decrease in seeds and newly planted trees, leading to less oxygen being produced and making it harder for us to breath. 


Gorillas Don't Need to Be Taught to Clean Their Food - Gastro Obscura


As of right now, about 80% of western gorillas live in protected areas, but there are large efforts right now to protect the tropical forests that they thrive in. Not only this, but poaching and illegal trade of gorilla products is becoming more and more illegal. The best way to help out is to simply donate. 

Donating to known organizations that strive to protect wildlife like https://lp.panda.org/donate is always a great option. If you're looking for a real adventure, you can visit the gorillas in Africa, where the tour money goes towards conservation!

Sources:
https://www.neprimateconservancy.org/western-lowland-gorilla.html
https://gorillafund.org/why-gorillas-matter-save-gorillas-save-the-planet/
https://www.worldwildlife.org/stories/what-do-gorillas-eat-and-other-gorilla-facts





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