ARE THERE MOUNTAIN GORILLAS IN ZOOS? CAN MOUNTAIN GORILLA BE IN ZOO

No, mountain gorillas can’t survive in zoos. They are only live in mountainous forested areas of Central-East Africa. In the 1960s and 70s, several attempts were made to capture live mountain gorillas and start a captive population. A number of adult gorillas were killed to get live babies but none of which survived in captivity.

Why are there no mountain gorillas in zoos?

The reason why mountain gorillas failed to survive in captivity is unclear, but most probably because of the complex mountain gorilla diet.

Also possibly the rate of consumption and variety in feeds make it hard for mountain gorillas to survive in captivity.

Mountain gorillas have always been rare. Today there are only around 1063 mountain gorillas left.

Where do mountain gorillas live?

Mountain gorillas only live in Africa in three countries; Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo.

In Uganda, they live in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park which is home to almost half of the world’s population of these gentle great apes and in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in the southwestern region of the country

In Rwanda, they live in Volcanoes National Park in the northwestern region of the country.

In Democratic Republic of Congo, they live in Virunga National Park in the eastern region of the country.

Gorillas in zoo: Which gorillas do you see in zoos?

All gorillas in zoos around the world are lowland gorillas and mainly western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla), one of the two sub species of the western gorilla (Gorilla gorilla).

There are over 100,000 western lowland gorillas in the wild, with 4,000 in zoos, thanks to conservation. Eastern lowland gorillas have a population of fewer than 3,800 in the wild and 24 in zoos

if you are to trek gorillas in Uganda in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park & Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Rwanda in Volcanoes National Park or the Democratic Republic of Congo in Virunga National Park and Kahuzi Biega National Park

GORILLA FACTS FAQs