Western Lowland Gorilla Born At Zoo Atlanta - Atlanta, GA - The birth adds a crucial new member to the zoological population of a critically endangered species. The western lowland gorilla is the most widespread, possibly numbering 100,000. Cross River gorilla (Gorilla gorilla diehli) 250 to 300: Cameroon-Nigeria border region Large numbers have not protected the western lowland gorilla from decline. The Western gorilla is a heavily built primate and is one of the largest of the living apes, second only to the Eastern gorilla. Because of poaching and disease, the gorilla’s numbers have declined by more than 60% over the last 20 to 25 years. The Gorilla Species Survival Plan (SSP) serves 50 zoos across the United States to help guide the management of the gorilla population. Even if all of the threats to western lowland gorillas were removed, scientists calculate that the population would require some 75 years to recover. The western lowland gorilla, which accounts for 99% of all living gorillas, is now thought to number around 360,000 animals. Some estimations will place the animal at 100,000, but this is believed to no longer be accurate, but it is hard to know with the animals being very elusive and often being found in very remote rainforests. The lowland subspecies are more numerous and widespread than the upland and mountain subspecies. The estimated population for the Western Lowland Gorilla is thought to be above 20,000 in the wild. Population Distribution western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) 95,000: Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. A new study reveals one of the enigmas related to the social behavior of the western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) in the heart of the African equatorial rainforest. The critically endangered mountain gorilla population is threatened by habitat loss, poaching, disease and war. It's also the only subspecies of gorilla kept in zoos, with few exceptions. Megan, a 13-year-old critically endangered Western lowland gorilla, holds her one-week-old baby, who is unnamed until zoo can determine gender, at the Dallas Zoo on Thursday, March 14, 2019 in Dallas. Learn more about what WWF is doing to protect its future, and how you can help. Distribution. Due to these outbreaks, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) updated the status of western lowland gorillas from “endangered” to “critically endangered” (population decline). Because of poaching and disease, the gorilla’s numbers have declined by more than 60% over the last 20 to 25 years. Western Lowland Gorillas The Western Lowland Gorilla (Gorilla Gorilla Gorilla) belongs to the family ‘Pongidae’, which includes four species of great apes: the Gorilla, Common Chimpanzee, Bonobo or Pygmy Chimpanzee and Orangutan. About. However, the total population is thought to number up to 100,000 individuals. Western Lowland Gorillas The Western Lowland Gorilla (Gorilla Gorilla Gorilla) belongs to the family ‘Pongidae’, which includes four species of great apes: the Gorilla, Common Chimpanzee, Bonobo or Pygmy Chimpanzee and Orangutan. No accurate estimates of their numbers are possible, as these elusive apes inhabit some of Africa’s densest and most remote rainforests. Mountain gorillas are the only gorillas to show an increase in numbers, but the overall population size is still very low. Even if all of the threats to western lowland gorillas were removed, scientists calculate that the population would require some 75 years to recover. Population and distribution The western lowland gorilla is the most widespread and numerous of the four gorilla subspecies. (Last Updated On: October 8, 2019) Why are western lowland gorillas endangered? Western gorillas live in lowland, swamp, and montane forests from sea level to 1,600m, have the largest home ranges, up to 20km², and travel the farthest of all gorilla subspecies because of their reliance on fruit. Large numbers have not protected the western lowland gorilla from decline. The western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) is one of two subspecies of western gorillas The other subspecies is the Cross River gorilla.Of the two subspecies, the western lowland gorilla is more numerous. Although our primary role is in population management, we are ultimately interested in the health and well-being of ALL gorillas, including those living outside accredited zoos and in the wild.