Page 50 - World of Animals - Issue #33

Conserving gorillas

p
l
s
s
l
ci
e
a
e
ri
G
o
s
Gorilla subspecies
b
u
There are two species of gorilla,
and each have two subspecies
a l
o
e i
f g
o s
p
e t
w
s o
h
e
e
a
p
The two species of gorilla live in the tropical
T T h e t w o s p e c c i i e s o f g o r r i i l l l l a l i i v v e i n t h e t ro p i i c c a l l
h
n t
ro
e t
rainforests of equatorial Africa, and are
separated by a huge expanse of rainforest
between the eastern and western varieties.
Each species has two subspecies, a highland
and a lowland type. The two subspecies
of eastern gorillas are the eastern lowland
and mountain gorillas, and the western
subspecies are the cross river gorillas
and the western lowland gorillas. Each
subspecies has subtle differences in their
physical appearance and behaviour.
The western lowland gorillas live in the
lowland swamp and rainforest of central
Africa. They live in the smallest social
groups, and this subspecies is the most
numerous with around 100,000 individuals.
The cross river gorilla is the world’s rarest
gorilla subspecies. Population numbers are
incredibly low, and many of this subspecies
live in unprotected forests.
Towards the east of the gorilla realm
the stocky-looking eastern lowland gorilla
can be found, with many troops living in
Kahuzi-Biega National Park. Threatened
by bushmeat poachers and habitat
degradation, numbers have declined
drastically in recent years.
The last of the subspecies is the mountain
gorilla. This species was discovered in 1902,
and it is thought that there are around 700
in existence. However, due to dedicated
conservation efforts the population of this
species is on the rise.
The silverback, named for his
saddle-shaped patch of silver
hair, is the dominant male of
the group and is responsible
for the safety of his family
Western lowland gorilla Cross river gorilla Mountain gorilla Eastern lowland gorilla
Gorilla gorilla gorilla Gorilla gorilla diehli Gorilla beringei beringei Gorilla beringei graueri
This gorilla subspecies is smaller This subspecies of gorilla was Mountain gorillas live high on the The eastern lowland gorilla is the
and lighter than the rest. It unknown to science until the early volcanic slopes of the Virunga largest subspecies, with a stocky
has a wider skull and a more 20th Century. It only lives in small mountains in Rwanda and in the body and large hands. Its population,
pronounced brow, and there’s a patches of high-altitude forest on highlands of the Bwindi Impenetrable found in lowland rainforests of the
big difference in size between the the border between Cameroon National Park in Uganda – these Democratic Republic of Congo has
males and females. The western and Nigeria, and the population is mountain gorillas could also be a been decimated in recent years.
lowland gorilla eats much more incredibly low – it’s estimated that separate subspecies. The mountain There is an estimated 50 per cent
fruit and feeds on the fruit of over there are only 250-300 individuals gorilla has longer, shaggier fur than decline from the 17,000-strong
100 fruit trees! left in the wild. other species, as well as larger teeth. population of the 1990s.

50