Common Reasons why Gorillas are Poached

Due to risks to their lives, such as poaching, these gorillas—who have thick fur on their bodies—are compelled to live in jungles where they must endure hazardous and lethal conditions.

Although they suffer several risks, such as poaching, gorillas share 98% of their DNA with humans. Even the sheer presence of humans is a hazard to gorillas, who are sensitive to any changes in their surroundings.

Despite the stringent regulations in place, poachers, cattle herds, and grass and honey gatherers all frequently disrupt gorillas in national parks. When poachers place traps in certain locations to capture antelopes and other animals, gorillas are being stolen.

However, after the traps are placed, gorillas also manage to get inside them and frequently fail to remove the wires. They lose a hand or foot in such a situation, and occasionally they pass away. The traps in the groups that have already been accustomed to people can occasionally be removed by the veterinarians.

The western gorillas are under a great deal of hunting pressure. Even though the locals are aware that it is against the law, they nonetheless kill gorillas for their meat.

Because gorillas invade their fields, some locals, like farmers, frequently kill them. One gorilla family can completely devastate a garden.The growing trend of habitat degradation is another factor endangering gorillas. Because there is no longer any habitat, animals that are accustomed to the little forest become isolated as a result of rain forest degradation.

George Schaller believed that poaching was essential to the eastern gorillas’ survival. However, logging corporations continue to disrupt the woods that safeguard these endangered species by clearing them for cultivation because they require timber. To transport the timber, roads are built.

As a result, laborers look for food more frequently, which causes them to cut down and destroy the crops. Timbers and bush meat, including gorilla meat, are always delivered to towns.