Learning & Fun
We invite you to learn more here about the mighty, charismatic, and whimsical animal that Dian Fossey introduced to the world and risked her life to save: the magnificent gorilla.
Types of Gorillas
Mountain Gorillas
Conservation Status
1004 remain
Where they Live
Interesting Fact
Made famous by Dian Fossey; featured in the movie Gorillas in the Mist
Grauer's Gorillas
Conservation Status
Critically Endangered
Around 3,800 remain
Where they Live
Democratic Republic of Congo
Interesting Fact
May be most threatened of all the subspecies — has declined by ~75% in the past two decades
Western Lowland Gorillas
Conservation Status
Critically Endangered
Around 400,000 remain
Where they Live
Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon
Interesting Fact
Only gorilla subspecies found in zoos
Cross River Gorillas
Conservation Status
Critically Endangered
Around 300 remain
Where they Live
Cameroon, Nigeria
Interesting Fact
Because so few are left and only in remote areas, this subspecies is mostly exclusively observed in camera trap images
Track Our Gorillas
The Fossey Fund closely tracks and records all areas where gorilla groups travel because information about their ranging patterns is crucial to their protection and conservation, both now and in the future.
Gorilla Family Trees
Gorillas live in groups with many related individuals. We track all births and matriarchal lines. We use DNA testing to determine paternity because adult females can mate with more than one male.
Which Gorilla
Personality Are You?
The Fossey Fund has studied gorilla individuals and groups up close for so long that we know a lot about gorillas personalities! They have a wide range of behaviors, just like us.
