Although still endangered, the mountain gorilla is the only great ape with a growing wild population.

Rwanda is home to more than half of the world’s mountain gorillas, the only gorilla subspecies found in Rwanda. They inhabit the high-altitude montane forests of the Virunga Massif, which spans Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Once facing near-extinction in the 1980s, their population has steadily increased due to decades of conservation, biodiversity restoration, and responsible tourism. Today, there are more than 1,000 mountain gorillas globally, with over 600 in the Virunga region, the majority of which are found in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. These primates are currently classified as "Endangered” on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, a positive step forward from their previous "Critically Endangered” status in 2018.

ALSO READ: "In Rwanda, a gorilla is a school, a clinic, and a road” — Kaddu Sebunya

Despite this progress, mountain gorillas remain at risk. The species continues to face serious threats, including human-wildlife conflict, poaching for bushmeat and their body parts, and habitat loss caused by agricultural expansion and logging, and human encroachment. Compounding these challenges are disease outbreaks, low genetic diversity, and limited movement between fragmented populations.

ALSO READ: Study from volcanoes park shows gorillas reconnect with old female friends after years apart

Continued action and vigilance are critical, and Rwanda has mastered it. Over decades, the country has emerged as a global leader in gorilla conservation through a model that balances ecological protection with sustainable development. The country’s success has become a blueprint for other gorilla-range states, with strategies including: