Western lowland gorillas remain critically endangered despite increased awareness, with disease outbreaks, illegal mining, and bushmeat hunting creating ongoing welfare and conservation emergencies across their range.
Gorillas dying from Ebola virus disease experience rapid hemorrhagic illness with high lethality — outbreaks can kill 90% of gorillas in affected areas within weeks. Mining operations expose gorillas to human contact, dog predation of infants, and hunting pressure as mining camps create bushmeat markets in previously remote areas. Orphaned gorillas from the bushmeat trade require years of specialized sanctuary care to develop adequate social skills. Smartphone and electronics consumers are linked through the coltan supply chain to gorilla habitat destruction — rare earth mining drives habitat destruction in gorilla range states. The welfare of western lowland gorillas is connected to decisions made by consumers in developed countries.