Eastern lowland gorilla
Victim of war
| Common Name |
Eastern lowland gorilla, Grauer's gorilla; |
|
| Scientific Name | Gorilla beringei graueri | |
| Habitat | Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests | |
| Location | Central Africa | |
| Status | ||
| Population | Unknown; may have reached 17,000 at one time |
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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 typeTropical 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