Gorilla gorilla Savage and Wyman 1847
POPULATION
All three subspecies of gorilla are categorised in the 1996 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals as Endangered to Critically Endangered (see Table 1). These categories have recently been endorsed in the light of new population estimates coupled with new cr
iteria which take into account habitat loss.34
Some scientists believe that the gorillas in Uganda's Bwindi-Impenetrable National Park, formerly classified as Mountain Gorillas, show characteristics similar to Eastern Lowland Gorillas or may even be a unique subspecies.35,36 If correct, it
would mean that 'true' Mountain Gorillas occur only in the Virunga Range.
Gorilla population density varies from area to area, and population estimates are extremely difficult to make in forest habitats.20,34 There is no reliable estimate of the total wild gorilla population. Most national estimates are old and prob
ably subject to significant error. Only the current estimate of the total Mountain Gorilla population (including those in Bwindi-Impenetrable) is likely to be sound. Surveys in primary forest in Gabon have established that Western Lowland Gorillas occur a
t higher densities throughout a wider range of forest habitats than was previously thought.27,15,16,34 Accounting for the possibility that uncensused habitats may hold similar gorilla densities, it has been suggested that the total Western Low
land Gorilla population may number as many as 111,500 individuals.34 The Eastern Lowland subspecies was estimated during 1980 to number 3,000-5,000 individuals, all in DRC, but, the full range of this subspecies is not established and it may to
tal over 10,000 individuals.15,16,34 Estimates of the Mountain Gorilla population, currently estimated at approximately 620 individuals are considered to be the most accurate, having been intensely monitored since the 1950s.29
Table 1. Distribution, population estimates, and status of gorillas
SUBSPECIES |
DISTRIBUTION |
POPULATION |
STATUS |
Mountain gorilla (G.g. beringei) |
DRC, Uganda, Rwanda |
620 b |
Endangered to critically endangered |
Western lowland gorilla (G.g. gorilla) |
Central Africa Republic, Cameroon, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Nigeria, ?Angola |
? > 111,000 a |
Endangered(populations in Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria are critically endangered) |
Eastern lowland gorilla (G.g. graueri) |
Eastern DRC |
? > 10,000 a |
Endangered |
Note: a: Estimates are extrapolations from habitat availability. b: population count from censuses
Source: IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist Group, 29 and Harcourt, 1996.34
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