Mountain gorilla

The mountain gorilla is characterized by a mix of climate resilience and high vulnerability. While the species possesses high temperature tolerance and a generalist diet, it is critically endangered with a small population and restricted range. Key vulnerabilities include a low reproductive rate, limited genetic variation, and a high susceptibility to human-transmitted diseases, which may be exacerbated by a changing climate. The document recommends monitoring disease, expanding protected areas, and supporting human adaptation to reduce pressures on gorilla habitats.

• Mountain gorillas possess traits that provide resilience to climate change, including high temperature tolerance, low freshwater requirements, and a generalist diet consisting of up to 140 different species.
• The species is highly vulnerable due to its critically endangered status, small population size (400 in Bwindi and 480 in the Virunga Massif), and restricted geographic range in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
• Biological and behavioral factors limit the species' adaptive capacity, specifically a long generation time of approximately 20 years, a low reproductive rate, and low genetic variation.
• There is a high risk of disease transmission from humans to gorillas, a threat intensified by the species' clustered distribution and frequent interactions with tourists, researchers, and rebels.
• Climate change may exacerbate existing non-climatic threats, such as habitat destruction from illegal grazing and farming, poaching, and socio-political instability in the east/central African region.

APA

Advani, N. (2014). Mountain gorilla. WWF International. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/808/3tftjqtltg_Mountain_gorilla___WWF_wildlife_and_climate_change_series.pdf

Chicago

Advani, Nikhil. Mountain gorilla. WWF International, 2014. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/808/3tftjqtltg_Mountain_gorilla___WWF_wildlife_and_climate_change_series.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Advani |first1=Nikhil |title=Mountain gorilla |publisher=WWF International |date=2014 |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/808/3tftjqtltg_Mountain_gorilla___WWF_wildlife_and_climate_change_series.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{advani2014mountain, author = {Advani, Nikhil}, title = {{Mountain gorilla}}, institution = {WWF International}, year = {2014}, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/808/3tftjqtltg_Mountain_gorilla___WWF_wildlife_and_climate_change_series.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }