Gorillas are huge, hairy, terrestrial primates belonging to the genus Gorilla. They are primarily herbivorous mammals feeding on pith, leaves and fruits, although there are certain sub-species such as eastern lowland gorillas that also eat insects and thus fall under the category of omnivores. Gorillas inhabit the forests of Central Africa and, after chimpanzees, are the closest relatives of humans. Sadly though, today there remain only about 700 gorillas in the African jungles and hence have been listed as 'endangered' (Eastern gorillas) and 'critically endangered' (Western gorillas) species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Loss of Habitat One of the major reasons for gorillas becoming an 'endangered' species is an ever-increasing threat to their natural habitat. This is caused due to large-scale deforestation, for agriculture purposes, for acquiring timber, extensive mining activities and grazing of domestic animals which disturbs their natural habitat. Constant growth in human population has also added to the plight of the gorillas. Hunting and Poaching Most gorilla deaths are caused by illegal poachers who kill them primarily for bush meat which fetches them good money. Another reason for poaching is because infant gorillas can be used for entertainment purposes, such as, in circuses, where they are exploited and harassed as also malnourished and starved and eventually, killed. The older ones are poached for their body parts to be sold in the market as amulets and souvenirs, alongside bush meat. Political Unrest Gorillas have also been the victims of political unrest. Physical violence in the Great Lakes region in Africa is responsible for the deaths of many of these animals. During the early nineties, people from Rwanda escaped from their villages and camped in the Virunga National Park. They were forced to harvest firewood from the forest and also kill gorillas in their struggle for survival. The mountain gorillas also suffered during this violence. Decline in Tourism The political unrest adversely affected the tourism industry in central Africa. This in turn affected the welfare of gorillas. A considerable portion of the revenue earned from tourism, both domestic and international, went to the wildlife sanctuaries and national parks for protection and conservation of the gorillas. This flow of revenue came to an abrupt halt, or dwindled greatly, as tourism declined. Diseases and Ailments Another major reason, which has brought these animals on the verge of extinction, is the numerous diseases and ailments gorillas suffer from. These animals are prone to ailments like measles, mange and intestinal parasites. Since they interact with humans, they become more susceptible to such illnesses and diseases. In the year 2004, several hundred gorillas died due to the outbreak of dreaded Ebola virus in the Odzala National Park in Congo. Human Misconceptions Gorillas are always projected as violent beasts. However, they are not violent and in fact very friendly. For example, these animals are nowhere near how they are portrayed in the popular culture, in movies and series like 'King Kong' and 'Tarzan'. The only time gorillas do get angry is when their families are threatened, especially their kids. It is at this time that they rise and thump their chests. Unfortunately, this antic purports them as being violent and therefore results in them being hunted. Natural Disasters Natural disasters are unavoidable phenomena. They can occur at any place and at any time. Because gorillas are centered in the wilderness of African forests, they are most susceptible to is forest fires which often tends to take a toll on their lives due to extreme heat in the region. The western gorilla is in greater danger of becoming extinct than their eastern counterpart. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species estimates that there may be only 250-300 of them left in the African forests, which is a disturbingly small number. Numerous conservation efforts are being undertaken in order to save these animals from disappearing from the face of the earth. One of them is the Great Apes Survival Project, which is an initiative by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The main focus of this project is the protection and conservation of the 'Great Apes' that includes gorillas, chimpanzees and orangutans, through restoration of their natural habitats. Similarly, the International Gorilla Conservation Programme (IGCP) aims at conserving the eastern mountain gorillas and their natural habitats in Uganda, Congo and Rwanda. The African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) also works towards the protection of the gorillas in African forests. Gorilla tourism is one concept which has worked positively for restoring the population of these apes. Dian Fossey's Mountain Gorilla Project added a new dimension to 'Gorilla Tourism' in Rwanda. In fact, the project was so popular that gorilla tourism became the largest earning business for the country for quite a while. The project concentrated on tourism development, conservation, mass education and development of wildlife sanctuaries. The project also taught natives about the economic advantages of saving primates.