Mountain gorilla conservation faces threats from disease and habitat loss

Mountain gorillas, a subspecies of the eastern gorilla, face critical conservation challenges despite population increases. Currently, approximately 1,000 mountain gorillas remain in the wild, inhabiting the Virunga volcanic mountains across Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

While conservation efforts have helped stabilize some populations, the species remains endangered due to habitat loss, poaching, and disease. A significant threat is the risk of Ebola outbreaks; a previous outbreak between 2002 and 2003 killed roughly 5,000 western lowland gorillas. Although no cases have been confirmed in eastern gorillas following the May 2026 Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, conservationists remain on high alert due to the rapid spread of the virus within primate groups.

In the broader context of gorilla conservation, the IUCN reports a mixed outlook. While some populations are stable, others, such as Grauer’s gorilla, have seen declines of approximately 60% over the last 20 years.