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Rwanda · Uganda · Partner grants

Save the mountain gorillas

Just over a thousand mountain gorillas remain — the one great ape whose numbers are rising. Fund partner-led protection in Rwanda and Uganda.

DONATE TO GORILLAS Rwanda country page
A mountain gorilla resting in dense mountain vegetation

In brief

Just over 1,000 mountain gorillas remain in Rwanda and Uganda — the only great ape whose wild numbers are increasing. They are still Endangered. WARN funds partner-led veterinary response, snare removal and conflict mitigation in Rwanda and Uganda through grants — not WARN-run facilities or tourism.

~1,063

Mountain gorillas (2024 census)

Only

Great ape with rising numbers

Endangered

IUCN Red List status

2

WARN in-network countries (Rwanda, Uganda)

Figures: IUCN Red List; Virunga census reporting. See sources below.

The gorilla story

Mountain gorillas are one of conservation's rare good-news stories. Once feared doomed, their numbers have climbed back above a thousand through decades of intensive protection in the Virunga volcanoes of Rwanda, Uganda and the DRC.

But that recovery is fragile. Gorillas are caught in snares, acutely vulnerable to human diseases, and live in one of the most densely populated regions of Africa. WARN makes partner grants in Rwanda and Uganda for veterinary response, snare removal and conflict mitigation — not WARN-run facilities or tourism.

Mountain gorilla in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
Rwanda: Volcanoes National Park — country programme
Mountain gorilla in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda
Uganda: Bwindi & Mgahinga — country programme

What threatens gorillas?

Snares & bycatch

Wire snares set for antelope and other forest animals maim and kill gorillas. A single snare injury can prove fatal for an animal that depends on hands and feet for travel and feeding.

Snares remain a constant threat in Virunga forests

Disease from humans

Gorillas share much of our DNA and are acutely vulnerable to human respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases. Strict viewing distances and health protocols exist because a common cold can kill a gorilla.

Tourism and proximity increase disease risk

Habitat pressure

Rwanda and Uganda have among Africa's densest human populations. Parks sit hard against farmland, so gorillas and people live in very close proximity — increasing conflict, crop raiding and disease transmission.

Small range, high human density

Poaching & insecurity

Historically gorillas were killed for bushmeat and trophies. In the DRC, armed conflict and insecurity in Virunga National Park continue to threaten rangers and gorillas alike.

DRC populations face highest insecurity

Small population risk

With just over a thousand individuals, mountain gorillas remain genetically vulnerable. The loss of even a few breeding females can affect a subpopulation for decades.

Every individual matters at this population size

Gorilla species compared

AttributeMountainEastern lowlandWestern lowland
Scientific nameGorilla beringei beringeiGorilla beringei graueriGorilla gorilla gorilla
IUCN statusEndangered (increasing)Critically EndangeredCritically Endangered
Population estimate~1,063~3,800~316,000 (declining)
RangeVirunga volcanoes (RW, UG, DRC)Eastern DRCCentral & West Africa
HabitatMontane forestLowland & montane forestLowland rainforest
Adult male weightUp to ~220 kgUp to ~250 kgUp to ~180 kg

Quick gorilla facts

Lifespan~35–40 years in the wild
WeightMales up to ~220 kg; females ~70–100 kg
HeightMales up to ~1.7 m standing
DietHerbivore — leaves, shoots, fruit, bark
Gestation~8.5 months; usually one infant
Interbirth interval~4 years
Social unitStable groups led by a silverback male
CITESAppendix I (all gorilla taxa)

Key facts

  • Mountain gorillas are one of conservation's rare success stories — intensive protection has lifted numbers above 1,000.
  • They remain Endangered and entirely dependent on continued ranger patrols, veterinary care and strict disease protocols.
  • Eastern lowland and western lowland gorillas face far larger range losses and are Critically Endangered.
  • Snares, disease from humans and habitat pressure at park edges are the most persistent threats to mountain gorillas.
  • WARN makes partner grants in Rwanda and Uganda for veterinary response, snare removal and conflict mitigation — not WARN-run facilities.
  • The DRC also holds mountain gorillas; WARN's in-network gorilla funding focuses on Rwanda and Uganda country pages.
  • An unrestricted gift still supports the most urgent partner-led rescue need across all 17 network countries.

Donate to Gorilla Protection

Partner grants in Rwanda and Uganda fund veterinary response, snare removal and conflict mitigation for mountain gorillas.

Donate now Explore Rwanda programme

Questions About Gorillas

How many mountain gorillas are left?
The latest census puts the mountain gorilla population at about 1,063 individuals across Rwanda, Uganda and the DRC — up from roughly 620 in 1989. They are the only great ape whose numbers are increasing, but remain Endangered and dependent on protection.
Are gorillas endangered?
All gorilla taxa are threatened. Mountain gorillas are Endangered (population increasing). Eastern lowland (Grauer's) and western lowland gorillas are Critically Endangered and declining. Cross River gorillas in Nigeria and Cameroon are Critically Endangered with fewer than 300 individuals.
Where does WARN's gorilla work happen?
WARN makes partner grants in Rwanda and Uganda for veterinary response, snare removal and conflict mitigation. See /countries/rwanda and /countries/uganda for country-specific programme context. The DRC also holds gorillas but sits outside WARN's current in-network country pages.
What threatens mountain gorillas?
Snares set for other animals, disease passing from humans, habitat pressure from dense human populations around parks, historic poaching and — in the DRC — insecurity that threatens rangers and wildlife. Their small population means every individual matters.
Can tourists harm gorillas?
Unregulated tourism can transmit disease and habituate gorillas to humans. Regulated gorilla trekking uses strict viewing distances, time limits, mask rules and health checks — because gorillas are so susceptible to human illness.
Why did mountain gorilla numbers recover?
Decades of daily ranger patrols, snare removal, veterinary intervention for injured gorillas, community benefit from tourism revenue and transboundary cooperation between Rwanda, Uganda and the DRC. It is one of the most intensive protection programmes on Earth.
Does WARN run its own gorilla project?
No. WARN is a registered global not-for-profit that makes grants to vetted partners in Rwanda and Uganda. It does not run gorilla projects, facilities or tourism operations.
How can I help mountain gorillas through WARN?
Donate to this gorilla appeal to fund partner-led veterinary response, snare removal and conflict mitigation in Rwanda and Uganda — or explore country pages at /countries/rwanda and /countries/uganda.
Can I donate to gorilla rescue from the UK?
Yes — you can give to WARN, but this page is educational context for African gorillas rather than an earmarked gorilla fund. WARN is a registered global not-for-profit animal welfare organisation, not a charity, so it cannot claim Gift Aid. The donation case is transparency: low fixed costs and partner-led delivery in the countries where help is needed.

Sources