Gorillas Age, Threats and other Challenges?

Gorilla Longevity-Age

On average gorillas probably reach about 40 to 45 years of the age. The oldest gorilla whose age is known exactly was Colo which was born in Columbus/Ohio and she died age 60 in December 2016.

The lifespan of the gorillas is estimated to be about 35 years in the wild. At age of 35 or more, gorillas show distinct signs of age. Old mountain gorillas often suffer from arthritis, which mainly damages the bones in their hands and feet. They also suffer from the loss of teeth as a consequence of periodontists which makes feeding and movement difficult. The gorilla groups adjust their activities accordingly and look after the aged members in a similar way as they treat sick individuals. Only when death is imminent, the old animals are then abandoned.

Factors that lead to the Gorillas Demise

The Human Impact

The biggest and main threat to gorilla populations today is habitat loss, poaching, disease transmission from humans and civil wars/political unrest.

The habitat loss and fragmentation occurs when land is modified for agricultural purposes, logging and land conversion for grazing.

Predators

Predators are a huge problem to gorillas Leopards and crocodiles are large carnivores which may prey upon gorillas.

Coltan Mining

Coltan is a metallic ore comprising niobium and tantalum which is an essential component in the capacitors that regulate current flow in the circuit boards of cell phones. Nearly four-fifths of the world’s tantalum resources are located in Africa, of which 80% is located in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the DRC is home to many endangered species such as gorillas and elephants. Kahuzi-Biega National Park is located in the DRC and has been decimated by land clearing which facilitates the mining process. The land clearing has greatly reduced the amount of available food for native wildlife. Additionally with greater numbers of miners penetrating deep into the forest, where food supplies are scarce, they begin to rely on gorillas for bush meat hence decimating the gorilla population and other wildlife found in the national park.

Poaching

Poaching carried out by humans is the illegal killing of an animal. Gorillas are poached for three main reasons: meat, capture for collections and trophies. Partially due to the false negative image that gorilla stereotyping has projected, trophies from their hands, feet, skulls, and skins have been sought after. The collection of gorillas, especially infants, has led to numerous fatalities of adult males and females trying to protect their young. Many animals, including gorillas, are accidentally caught in snares not intended for them, often times resulting in death or serious injury.

Bush Meat

The forested areas in Africa are often referred to as ‘the bush’. Meat derived from wildlife living in these areas is called bush meat. Many bushmeat animals are either threatened or endangered, like the elephant, gorilla, and chimpanzee. It is estimated that over one million metric tons are taken from the Congo basin each year. Bush meat has unfortunately become a profitable business for individuals without alternative income options, earning them about $300-$1,000 per year which is higher than the average regional household income. The bushmeat trade generates about $50 million annually. The vast majority of bush meat consumers are low income families who cannot afford more costly meat alternatives. However, logging company employees and illegal imports to countries such as China, the United States and Britain are financially contributing to the growing crisis. It is estimated that as much as 10 tons of African bush meat may be reaching London on a daily basis unfortunately, the gorillas’ forested home may also provide retreats for armed opposition groups during times of war and political unrest. This adversely affects gorilla and other animal populations by reducing their numbers.

Disease & Parasitism Mainly Passed on From Human Beings

There are many diseases that infect these primates that are passed on from humans. The infectious agents that cause the following diseases may survive in soil tainted with fecal matter for up to six months: hepatitis A, poliovirus, tapeworm, and tuberculosis bacillus.

The Ebola virus caused the deaths of many gorillas and chimpanzees including 8 gorilla groups that had been studied by researchers.