Subscribe Now! National Geographic Magazine $15
Visit our Online Shops

Sign up for free

Newsletters

Once a month
get new photos
and expert tips.

Baby Mountain Gorilla

Photo: Baby mountain gorilla

Nearly half of the world's 700-some remaining mountain gorillas—including this infant—live in the Virunga mountains of central Africa, at the intersection of Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.


Virunga National Park, home to nearly 200 gorillas, has become a battleground for militia groups and the Congolese army. Poachers also hunt park gorillas for meat and sale, and locals cut down trees to create charcoal.


In the early 2000s, with the help of dedicated rangers and other measures, the gorilla population rebounded in the Virungas. But in 2007, at least ten apes in Virunga National Park were lost to murder and chaos, and their survival is uncertain.

Photograph by Michael Nichols

Multimedia

Primate Features

Photo: A dead silverback being carried away

Virunga Gorillas

Virunga National Park, home to nearly 200 gorillas, has become a battleground for militia groups and the Congolese army.

Photo: A silverback mountain gorilla

Kids: Gorilla Creature Feature

Get fun facts on mountain gorillas, plus video, audio, photos, and more at National Geographic's Kids site.

You need the Flash Player version 8.0.0.0 or higher and a JavaScript enabled browser to view this site

Special Advertising Sections

Photo: Horses and old barn

Enter Sweepstakes

Take a photographic journey through Montana and enter for a chance to win a trip for two!

Photo: Glass of water

Take Quiz

Eighteen percent of the world's population can't get safe drinking water. Test your water knowledge.

Mammals Right Rail

Get the Latest Headlines

Photo: Grizzly bears

Make us your online news source.

Get Animal Pictures

Photo: Lion yawning

Get your daily dose of photos.

Get the Call of the Wild

Image: Mobile phone and lion

Make your phone roar like a lion or howl like a coyote with Nat Geo Mobile.

For Kids!

Photo: A cartoon dog

It's no stretch to find fun facts on our Kids site!

Shop National Geographic DVDs

Photo: Human Footprint DVD cover

Whatever your interest, you'll be entertained and educated with our collection of best-selling DVDs.