Eastern Gorilla
Gorilla beringei
Silhouette: T. Michael Keesey (after Colin M. L. Burnett) · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassMammalia (Mammals)
- OrderPrimates
- FamilyHominidae (Great Apes)
- GenusGorilla (Gorillas)
- SpeciesGorilla beringei (Eastern Gorilla)
About the Eastern Gorilla
The eastern gorilla (Gorilla beringei) is a critically endangered species of the genus Gorilla and the largest living primate. At present, the species is subdivided into two subspecies. There are 6,800 eastern lowland gorillas or Grauer's gorillas (G. b. graueri) and 1,000 mountain gorillas (G. b. beringei). Illegal hunting threatens the species.
There are two recognised subspecies of eastern gorilla: the mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei) of the volcanic slopes of Rwanda, Uganda and eastern Democratic Republic of Congo; and the eastern lowland gorilla or Grauer's gorilla (Gorilla beringei graueri) in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The eastern lowland gorillas and mountain gorillas were previously thought to be two of the three subspecies of one single species, the gorilla (Gorilla gorilla). However, genetic research has shown that the two eastern subspecies are far more closely related than the western subspecies: the western lowland gorilla (G. gorilla gorilla), which justified the separate classification. The two eastern subspecies are now classified as G. beringei.
The eastern gorilla is a large hominid with a large... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Eastern Gorilla in Volcanoes National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Volcanoes National Park
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Volcanoes National Park | 🇷🇼 Rwanda | |
| 2 | Bwindi Impenetrable National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda | |
| 3 | Virunga National Park | 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Eastern Gorilla in Volcanoes National Park?
About 80% of wildlife watchers report a Eastern Gorilla sighting in Volcanoes National Park, based on 121 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Eastern Gorilla in Volcanoes National Park?
August has the highest sighting rate for Eastern Gorilla in Volcanoes National Park in our monthly data.