Description:
The western lowland gorilla is the smallest subspecies of gorilla but still has exceptional size and strength. Western gorillas are generally smaller than their eastern cousins with shorter hair and longer arms. They tend to be lighter in colour and have a reddish chest and crest adorning their heads. They can climb trees but spend much of their time on the ground, and build nests to sleep in, mostly on the ground, but occasionally in the lower branches of trees.
© Anthony Ochieng
Key facts
Population:
Diet:
Habitat:
Western Lowland Gorillas inhabit both swamp and terra firma lowland forests throughout Western Equatorial Africa.
Range:
Western Lowland Gorillas have a large geographic range, covering almost 700,000 km². They can be found in Angola (Cabinda); Cameroon; Central African Republic; Congo; Equatorial Guinea (Equatorial Guinea (mainland)); Gabon.
Western Lowland Gorilla babies Ozavino and Owabi - Loango Reserve
© Getty Images/iStockphoto
© Anthony Ochieng
Threats
Illegal poaching remains the largest threat to this species and mostly comes in the form of hunting for bushmeat. The second major driver for western lowland gorilla decline is infectious disease. Habitat loss is also a major threat to western gorillas. As oil-palm plantations in Asia reach capacity, Africa is becoming the new frontier for this crop, resulting in habitat disturbance and forest resource extraction.
Conservation
58% of Western Lowland Gorillas and 78% of their range are unprotected and highly vulnerable to poachers. OELO Gabon protect their forest home in Gabon.
Learn more about the projects
Illegal poaching remains the largest threat to this species and mostly comes in the form of hunting for bushmeat. The second major driver for western lowland gorilla decline is infectious disease. Habitat loss is also a major threat to western gorillas. As oil-palm plantations in Asia reach capacity, Africa is becoming the new frontier for this crop, resulting in habitat disturbance and forest resource extraction.
Conservation
58% of Western Lowland Gorillas and 78% of their range are unprotected and highly vulnerable to poachers. OELO Gabon protect their forest home in Gabon.