When you see the large, dark imposing shape of a gorilla mere metres from you, it is hard to conceive that we humans share about 98% of our DNA with them. These are the largest and most powerful primates on the planet, yet so peaceful in their mannerisms and habits. There are two gorilla species in the world: the eastern gorilla and the western gorilla. The endangered mountain gorilla is a subspecies of the eastern gorilla and is found in east-central Africa in just two isolated groups – the Virunga Volcanoes and the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Their favoured high-altitude forest habitat is surrounded by agriculture and settlements and the crimping of habitat, exposure to human illness and the bushmeat trade has seen to the reduction of the surviving population to around 1,000 individuals. Seeing gorillas in the wild is indeed a pleasure and privilege.
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