Western Gorilla
CR

Western Gorilla

Gorilla gorilla

Declining

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_gorilla

Overview

The western gorilla is a great ape found in Africa, one of two species of the hominine genus Gorilla. Large and robust with males weighing around 168 kilograms (370 lb), the species is found in a region of midwest Africa, geographically isolated from the eastern gorilla. The hair of the western species is significantly lighter in colour.

Western gorillas face severe population declines primarily due to commercial bushmeat hunting, which has intensified with improved road access to remote forest areas. The Ebola virus has caused catastrophic die-offs, with some populations experiencing mortality rates exceeding 90%. Logging operations fragment their habitat and facilitate human access, while agricultural expansion continues to reduce available forest cover.

Threat summary

Habitat

Western gorillas inhabit dense tropical rainforests across equatorial Africa, preferring primary and secondary forests with abundant fruit trees. They occupy both lowland and montane forest ecosystems up to 1,600 meters elevation, requiring large territories with diverse vegetation for foraging.

Wetlands (inland) - Permanent rivers/streams· majorWetlands (inland) - Bogs, marshes, swamps, fens· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionResource & habitat protectionSpecies recoveryAwareness & communicationsLegislationCompliance and enforcement

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Western Gorilla classified as Critically Endangered?
Western Gorilla is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Western gorillas face severe population declines primarily due to commercial bushmeat hunting, which has intensified with improved road access to remote forest areas. The Ebola virus has caused catastrophic die-offs, with some populations experiencing mortality rates exceeding 90%. Logging operations fragment their habitat and facilitate human access, while agricultural expansion continues to reduce available forest cover.
Where does Western Gorilla live?
Western Gorilla occurs in Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo - Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon (plus 1 other countries). Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Western Gorilla?
The main threats to Western Gorilla are 1.1, 11.1, 2.1, and 2.3. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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