Gorillas are powerful, intelligent, and majestic. Yet they face growing dangers in the wild. On World Gorilla Day, we examine threats to these great apes and highlight glimmers of hope from recent conservation efforts.
Emerging Threats to Gorillas
The Cross River gorilla (Gorilla gorilla diehli) remains one of the 25 most endangered primates worldwide. Experts estimate only about 250 mature individuals survive in Nigeria and Cameroon. Hunters increasingly target these gorillas, pushing them closer to extinction.
Investigations reveal a booming illegal trade in ape parts across Nigeria. Hunters who once faced community ostracism now profit from high demand. Ape body parts have soared in value as the animals become scarcer. “If you visit Ose main markets, you can get up to 50 to 100 ape heads if you so desire,” said Ekene Ezenwoke, a trader in southeastern Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo faces escalating forest loss. Armed M23 rebels control much of the region, endangering Kahuzi-Biega National Park. This park houses critically endangered eastern lowland gorillas (Gorilla beringei graueri), whose survival is now under severe threat.
Signs of Hope from Conservation
Camera trap studies in Cameroon recently confirmed the presence of both gorillas and chimpanzees in two degraded forest reserves. Researchers also documented a gorilla nest in these heavily fragmented areas. Wildlife conservationist Jean Christian Mey Boudoug emphasized the need to protect these reserves, even amid significant human activity.
In October 2024, conservationists released four eastern lowland gorillas into Virunga National Park in eastern DRC. These individuals were orphaned by poachers as infants and raised at the Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education Center (GRACE) between 2010 and 2016. More than five years of careful rewilding preceded their return to the wild.
Local Communities Drive Survival
The presence of M23 rebels in Virunga since January 2025 raises concerns for the reintroduced gorillas. Despite the risk, local conservationists remain confident.
“We are sure the gorillas will survive,” said Jackson Kabuyaya Mbeke, GRACE’s DRC director. “This armed group — they are just communities, they’re not from far away. That’s why we put communities at the center of all our activities, to break the cycle of poaching and wildlife trafficking.”
Efforts that combine conservation science with local engagement offer the strongest chance to safeguard gorillas. Even amid conflict and illegal trade, hope endures for these majestic primates.
