According to the WWF, the number of western lowland gorillas has decreased by at least 60% in the past 20 or 25 years.

Poaching and disease are the primary threats — the Ebola virus is still prevalent, and some scientists say it has killed about 33% of the wild gorilla population, mainly targeting the western lowland gorilla.

Ebola also makes poaching dangerous for people, as the virus could spread to humans who handle gorilla meat.