Gorillas are generally believed to have evolved from monkeys and other apes from Arabia and Africa from about 9 million years ago. About years ago gorillas separated into western and eastern gorillas in central and West Africa. Eastern gorillas are further separated forming mountain gorillas that are endangered and are only found in the Virunga ranges of volcanoes in Rwanda, in Congo, and Mgahinga in Uganda as well as Bwindi national park in Uganda harbors almost half of the world’s small population.
Western and eastern lowland gorillas are found in Congo, Cameroon, and parts of West Africa and they differ from mountain gorillas. Mountain gorillas are generally big and have far more than that of lowland gorillas. Lowland gorillas can live in captivity and in lowland areas with a bit high or moderate temperature and low altitude, unlike mountain gorillas that cannot live in captivity and live high altitude areas and areas with low temperatures. Gorilla tours can be done in East Africa while on Rwanda tours or Uganda safaris. Rwanda and Uganda offers best of gorilla safari and gorilla treks for lowland gorillas can be done in DR Congo
The following are some of the reasons why mountain gorillas are endangered and few in a population.
Habitat loss
A lot of local people live in the remote areas where mountain gorillas are found. Their need for a lot of land for faring and cultivation has led to the encroachment of the park land which acts as habitats for gorillas , the destruction and clearing of bushes which are food for gorillas. All this has affected reproduction process of gorillas and made gorillas homeless which has reduced its population and thus be threatened to extinction.
Traditional medicine
Some body parts of gorillas like the skin are sought for magical charms by traditional healers as medicine and this has also posed a threat to their existence in the world
Oil and gas exploration in Virunga forest in Congo basin
Of recent the government of democratic republic of Congo granted oil and gas exploration permits to European companies of oil and gas in the Virunga national park a home of democratic republic Congo’s gorilla population. The oil and exploration is not directly in the park but this may affect the security and safety of animals.
Hunting and poaching
Mountain gorillas are hunted for meat, they also hunted for trophies and awards for example you’re considered a brave when you kill a silver back, some tribe in Congo hunt these primates for meat. And this has greatly affected their multiplication because if the elder gorillas are killed leaving young ones with no help.
War and instability
Although the refugee camps were removed from the Virunga conservation area in 1989. The continued civil unrests and presence armed militia groups in the areas make the efforts of conservation very difficult in the Congo’s protected areas which are now in rebel’s territory.
Diseases
As human beings come so close to the human through tourists coming to visits them, human beings visiting their natural habitats, mountain gorillas continue to be exposed to human ailments which can their reproduction processes.
