Why are mountain gorillas endangered and what threats do they face? Mountain gorillas are adorable family creatures that thrive in the high mountains and are on the brink of extinction.
Many factors impact or threaten the survival of gorillas, with humans being the most significant. Below are some of the reasons why mountain gorillas have been declared endangered and the threats they face.
- Loss of Habitat: Many people live in remote areas where mountain gorillas thrive. The need for land to graze animals and practice agriculture has reduced the forests that are home to mountain gorillas. The destruction of the forest has left the mountain gorillas homeless, confined to virtual islands in the middle of expanding human settlements. This destruction greatly affects their reproduction process, as the gorillas are uncertain about the future, and the instability affects them as well.
- Traditional Healers: Traditional healers are interested in several parts of mountain gorillas for magical charms, posing a significant threat to their existence.
- Poachers and Hunters: Mountain gorillas are hunted illegally for their meat, trophies, and live infants. People kill mountain gorillas to demonstrate their strength and power. They may kill the silverback of the group, affecting the reproduction process, or they may kill the mature ones, leaving the young ones without any help. Many people, especially in the Democratic Republic of Congo, hunt mountain gorillas for their meat, putting their existence under great threat.
- Exploration of Oil and Gas: In the Democratic Republic of Congo, mountain gorillas thrive in the Virunga National Park. European oil and gas companies have been granted exploration consignments in the park. Although the gorilla’s habitat does not fall within the scope of the oil concession, the development of the park could negatively impact the security of gorillas.
- Wildlife Trade: Mountain gorillas also fall prey to illegal wildlife trade. In some cases, they are killed accidentally as poachers attempt to kill other animals such as elephants. This disturbance in their habitat scares them, causing them to flee to areas where their survival chances are low, resulting in their deaths.
- Diseases: Mountain gorillas are becoming more vulnerable as they are exposed to human diseases due to increasing human encroachment into their habitat.
- War and Fragility: Although the refugees left the camps in the vicinity of the Virunga National Park in the 1990s, civil unrest and the presence of armed militia continue to hinder survey and conservation activities in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s protected areas, currently in rebel-held territory.
In conclusion, mountain gorillas are endangered due to the reasons stated above.
They are greatly threatened by humans who engage in various activities that hinder their survival in their habitat.
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