How many silverback gorillas are left

Katerina Guschanski explains that while this is great news, these figures may still not be accurate. Mountain gorillas are one of the two subspecies of eastern gorillas. The Bwindi population holds a bit less than half of all mountain gorillas in the world, thus its importance for the global survival of these great apes cannot be overstated.

Their populations must keep growing because mountain gorillas have very low genetic diversity. This reduces their ability to adapt to future changes in the environment. Low genetic diversity was implicated in the extinction of some mammals, such as the mammoth.

Continued population growth is also needed to make them less vulnerable to random events, such as habitat destruction through extreme weather events, which could wipe out an entire population. One of the main factors that explains the higher detected number of gorillas is the change in the census technique used. And gorillas consider staring a sign of hostility. Geriatric pregnancy: Fossey died more than 30 years ago, but one gorilla that she new and studied still remains: Poppy, a year-old female gorilla who surprised researchers by giving birth last year, making her the oldest gorilla on record to give birth.

On National Geographic safaris in Rwanda, observe endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat and get an in-depth look at the enduring legacy of Dian Fossey during a visit to the Karisoke Research Center in Volcanoes National Park. Continue Reading. Where mountain gorillas live. Why mountain gorillas are so important. Adopt Please select an elephant a lion a panda a turtle an african rhino an orangutan a dolphin an amur leopard a gorilla a snow leopard a polar bear a penguin a jaguar.

Choose monthly donation Prefer a one-off donation? Choose one-off donation Prefer a monthly donation? Challenges affecting mountain gorillas. Learn more. More about climate change.

More about human-wildlife conflict. Counting mountain gorillas On an approximately five year cycle we help to census the remaining mountain gorilla populations, giving an estimation of population numbers and distribution. Threats to the mountain Gorillas? Population census for the mountain Gorillas There are usuall population cesus carried out in the protected areas to determine the number of mountain gorillas left.

How is a gorilla different from human beings? Are mountain gorillas biologically similar to human beings? Population and distribution of the mountain Gorillas Mountain gorillas are live in two separate locations — the Virunga range of extinct volcanic mountains on the borders of the Democratic Republic of Congo DRC , Rwanda and Uganda, and in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda.

Previous Mountain Gorilla population Ever since their discovery in the early nineteenth century, the population of the mountain Gorillas begun to decline drastically attributed to several factors including but not limited to habitat loss, uncontrolled hunting, war and civil unrest and capture for illegal pet trade yet the mountain gorillas rarely survive in captivity.

Current Mountain Gorilla population The population of the mountain gorillas is however slowly increasing, thanks to conservation efforts and the population in the recent years increased from individuals in to approximately individuals today. How gorilla trekking helps to conserve the mountain gorillas? Share This.