Wildlife Conservation

Gorilla Bushmeat: Conservation and Welfare Emergency

Both mountain and lowland gorillas face threats from hunting for bushmeat, fueled by logging roads that open access to previously remote forests across Central Africa.

Key Facts

All four gorilla taxa are Critically Endangered or Endangered by IUCN
Bushmeat hunting kills gorillas for meat and captures infants for the illegal pet trade
Logging roads built for timber extraction open access to previously protected forest interiors
Ebola virus outbreaks have killed over a third of some western gorilla populations
Mountain gorillas — the only great apes with an increasing population — are carefully protected in Virunga

Welfare Considerations

Gorillas killed for bushmeat face violent deaths. Infants captured for the pet trade witness their family groups being killed and endure severe psychological trauma. Gorillas have complex social bonds and high cognitive capacity, making social disruption and loss a genuine welfare harm beyond physical injury.

What You Can Do

Support Wildlife Conservation Society and WWF great ape protection in Central Africa
Donate to gorilla sanctuary programs that rehabilitate orphaned great apes
Advocate for stronger logging regulations that restrict road-building in gorilla habitat
Support local communities with alternative protein sources to reduce bushmeat dependence