What are threats to Africa’s mountain gorillas?

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safariquestions · Answer 1 · March 18, 2020

There are a number of threats to mountain gorillas, but the main ones are:

Habitat loss and human encroachment – Mountain gorillas already live in a limited habitat range and with human populations growing, this is putting their habitats under more pressure.
Poaching – Bush meat is sought after by local communities as a source of protein and mountain gorillas can be poached for their meat, as well as for traditional medicines.
Disease – Despite the protection national parks offer, mountain gorillas are still susceptible to disease. Gorilla families are subjected to regular visits from trekkers, who can bring in diseases and pathogens. Although we share a similar genetic makeup, a gorilla’s immune system has not evolved to cope with human disease.