Mountain gorillas are one of the most endangered animals in the world. Right now there are only about 650 alive in the entire world. Every time one of them dies, it takes away from their ability to produce healthy young because the gene pool is reduced.
I think Mountain gorillas are interesting because, unlike most gorillas, they are quite friendly.
Mountain gorillas are the largest living primates. They are also the hairiest type of gorillas. The surviving gorillas live in the rainforests of Africa. Mountain gorillas are mainly herbivores and eat over 100 different types of plants. They do not have to drink water often because they get most of their water from the plants they eat. Mountain gorillas are endangered because they are poached for their hands, feet and heads. The young gorillas are captured for zoos or used in research.
Two other ways they have become endangered are habitat loss and through war and civil unrest. The civil wars in African and weak governments in the small countries where the gorillas live, do not have enough resources to protect the gorillas properly. One of the main ways the governments collect money to protect the gorillas is from tourism. War has made tourism less popular in the past ten years.
One way you can help the Mountain gorillas is to contribute time or money to the conservation groups that are trying to help the gorillas or go and see them for yourself!
If you would like to learn more about Mountain gorillas, check out these links:
I think Mountain gorillas are interesting because, unlike most gorillas, they are quite friendly.
Mountain gorillas are the largest living primates. They are also the hairiest type of gorillas. The surviving gorillas live in the rainforests of Africa. Mountain gorillas are mainly herbivores and eat over 100 different types of plants. They do not have to drink water often because they get most of their water from the plants they eat. Mountain gorillas are endangered because they are poached for their hands, feet and heads. The young gorillas are captured for zoos or used in research.
Two other ways they have become endangered are habitat loss and through war and civil unrest. The civil wars in African and weak governments in the small countries where the gorillas live, do not have enough resources to protect the gorillas properly. One of the main ways the governments collect money to protect the gorillas is from tourism. War has made tourism less popular in the past ten years.
One way you can help the Mountain gorillas is to contribute time or money to the conservation groups that are trying to help the gorillas or go and see them for yourself!
If you would like to learn more about Mountain gorillas, check out these links:
National Geographic Mountain Gorilla Profile
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