Endangered
There are three recognized subspecies of gorilla: the western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla), eastern lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla graueri) and the mountain gorilla (Gorilla gorilla beringei). The western lowland gorilla lives in six countries spread across west equatorial Africa; southeast Nigeria, Gabon, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo and Equatorial Guinea. The primary reason gorillas are endangered is because of habitat destruction caused by logging and agricultural expansion. The bushmeat trade, facilitated by logging, has become an immediate threat to the western lowland gorilla population, particularly in Cameroon.

Conservation Efforts
Woodland Park Zoo participates in the American Zoo and Aquarium AssociationŐs (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP) for gorillas. We have helped diversify the captive gene pool with our breeding efforts. The zoo also works to educate the public about gorillas and this is the first step to gorilla conservation.

For more info on the Western Lowland Gorilla, click here.
For more info on the zoo's conservation efforts click here.