🤯 Did You Know (click to read)
Mountain gorillas are a subspecies of the eastern gorilla, distinct from western gorillas.
Mountain gorillas exist only in the Virunga massif and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, two geographically separated regions in Central Africa. No wild populations live outside these mountainous habitats. This extreme range restriction makes them one of the most geographically confined great apes. Isolation limits natural gene flow between subpopulations. Any catastrophic event within these zones could erase a significant portion of the species. Unlike migratory animals with continental distributions, mountain gorillas have nowhere else to retreat. Their world fits inside two forested highlands.
💥 Impact (click to read)
Many endangered species occupy shrinking ranges, but few are confined to such clearly bounded areas. Satellite imagery can outline nearly the entire habitat of this great ape subspecies. Conservation efforts therefore concentrate intensely within specific parks. The clarity of range simplifies monitoring yet magnifies localized risk.
Climate change models predict shifting vegetation zones at higher elevations. If suitable habitat contracts upslope, space diminishes further. With no alternative regions available, upward movement could compress populations against mountain summits. A species already restricted to the clouds may find no higher refuge. Geographic confinement defines their existential edge.
💬 Comments