Eastern lowland gorilla - Population & Distribution
Drastic population decline
The eastern lowland gorilla occurs in the lowland and Albertine Rift montane forests of eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Previous Population and Distribution
Until the mid-1990s, the population was thought to number around 17,000 individuals.
Current Population and Distribution
There are currently no reliable population estimates due to lack of census data in remote regions, as well as the unknown impact of decades of civil conflict in eastern DRC. Its stronghold is Kahuzi-Biega National Park, which is subject to poaching and habitat destruction. Numbers have declined by 80-90% in the last 5 years, largely due to increased poaching in the park.
The geographic range of the subspecies covers 12,000 km², down from 21,000 km² in 1963. Data suggests that eastern lowland gorillas occupy only 13% of their geographic range.