Mountain Gorilla

OMG, did you know… the gorilla’s only known enemies are leopards and humans. Crocodiles are potentially dangerous to lowland gorillas. In western Africa, gorillas are commonly hunted for meat or in retaliation for crop raiding, but in eastern Africa they have been the victims of snares and traps set for antelope and other animals. Poachers have also destroyed entire family groups in their attempts to capture infant gorillas for zoos, while others are killed to sell their heads and hands as trophies.

The future of the gorillas is most dependent on the protection and survival of the forests in which they live, since they depend on this land for food, safety and normal activities. But the forests are often in danger from growing human populations, and from civil war in the region.

Global Warming and Other Threats

Gorillas are threatened by habitat loss due to increasing human populations, poaching for the bush-meat trade and diseases like Ebola. Species that live in higher elevations, like mountain gorillas, are also affected by climate change, which has the potential to impact gorillas directly by altering their habitat, and indirectly by affecting agriculture yields in nearby communities, which in turn puts more pressure on remaining habitat

We are working to further support the work of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International by raising funds to help the DFGF front-line gorilla protection patrols to safeguard the last remaining mountain gorillas seven days a week from poachers.  Please click on the Donate Now button to show your support.