Western Lowland Gorilla

The Western lowland gorilla (or Gorilla gorilla gorilla) is native to Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Republic of the Congo and Southern Niger, living and foraging in the rainforests, swamp forests and abandoned farmland there. They have black skin, dark forward-facing eyes, a prominent brow ridge, large nostrils and coarse hair which covers most of their body except the face, ears, hands and feet. Males are much larger than females and, when they mature, the hair on their backs becomes grey and they are identified as 'silverbacks'. Male gorillas are much larger, up to twice the size, than females. On average, they are 1.7m tall while standing on their hind legs and weigh 181.5kg. Females are 1.5m tall and weigh around 79kg.

The Western lowland gorilla is Critically Endangered. Their tropical forest habitats in Central Africa are increasingly fragmented by logging, mining, and agricultural expansion. This limits food access and isolates populations. Poaching remains a critical threat, as gorillas are hunted for bushmeat and whole troops may be killed to access and capture a single infant for the illegal wildlife trade. Diseases, such as the Ebola virus, have, in recent decades, wiped out up to 90% of some local populations. All this is exacerbated by climate change altering their forest ecosystems. Gorillas are being supported both in-situ and ex-situ. Protected areas and national parks provide critical safe habitats with anti-poaching patrols and habitat management. Community-based conservation programmes engage local people in sustainable livelihoods and forest stewardship, reducing the incentive to hunt or capture gorillas. In captivity, zoos and breeding centres manage breeding programmes, public education, and genetic research, and support in-situ efforts with funding, hoping to ensure a long-term survival of the species.