Mountain gorillas have never been successfully kept in zoos due to their extreme sensitivity to captivity stress — their conservation entirely depends on in-situ habitat protection and protection.
Mountain gorilla welfare presents a unique case where captivity is simply not a viable welfare option — every individual kept in captivity has died. Their welfare depends entirely on protecting wild populations through ranger programs, veterinary interventions for sick individuals in the wild, and habitat conservation. The remarkable recovery of mountain gorilla numbers from 620 to over 1,000 through intensive in-situ protection demonstrates that conservation investment directly translates to individual welfare improvement — more gorillas living good lives in their natural habitat. This species exemplifies how conservation welfare and individual welfare goals are perfectly aligned.