Eastern lowland gorilla

Victim of war

Common Name		Eastern lowland gorilla, Grauer's gorilla; Gorille oriental de la plaine, gorille de Grauer (Fr); Gorila (Sp)
Scientific Name		Gorilla beringei graueri
Habitat		Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
Location		Central Africa
Status		IUCN: Endangered (EN A2cd+3cd+4cd)
Population		Unknown; may have reached 17,000 at one time

Background

This information has been reviewed. 

A subspecies of eastern gorilla, the eastern lowland gorilla (or Grauer's gorilla) is found only in the rainforests of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Its strongold is Kahuzi Biega National Park, where it is threatened by bushmeat hunters and human encroachment. Civil conflict and political instability have left the Congolese National Parks network in a state of dereliction, hampering the effective conservation of this Endangered gorilla subspecies.

WWF on the ground
WWF's continent-wide African Great Apes Programme aims to ensure the long-term survival of the great apes. WWF is also exploring ways to work with governments, local communities, and timber companies to combat the commercial trade in bushmeat. Through WWF's trade monitoring arm, TRAFFIC, we are working to stop the international trade in meat from protected species such as great apes.

Physical Description

The eastern lowland gorilla is the largest of the gorilla subspecies. Its hair and teeth are shorter than the mountain gorilla's, and its arms are longer.

This impressive animal is identified by a stocky body, large hands and a short muzzle. Unusually, the gorilla's thumbs are larger than the fingers. The face, ears, hands, and feet are bare, and the chest in old males lacks hair.

Habitat

Major habitat type
Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests

Biogeographic realm
Afrotropical

Range States
Democratic Republic of Congo

Geographical Location
Central Africa

Ecological Region
Northeastern Congo Basin Moist Forests