The International Union for the Conservation of Nature classifies mountain gorilla as endangered species since November 2018. Until November 2018, the same species had been classified as critically endangered. East Africa’s mountain gorilla population had sharply dropped in the past century because of poaching, illness and human encroachment. Recently, a Ugandan man was sentenced to 11 years in prison last week over the killing of Rafiki, who went missing on June 1 and was found dead the next day, the apparent victim of a spear attack. An arrest was made on June 4, and authorities said the suspect was in possession of several hunting items, including a spear and snares. He told investigators that he killed the gorilla in self-defence before he was convicted.

Other mountain gorillas have died because of natural causes, while some have fallen from trees and others killed during male battles for territory or dominance. A major threat to the gorillas has been poaching.

As of today, about 1,000 mountain gorillas live in protected areas in Congo, Uganda and Rwanda, serving as a critical source of tourism revenue for those countries. A Uganda gorilla safari permit costs up to $700 in Uganda, and it receives thousands of tourists pay each year. A similar permit costs upward of $1,500 in Rwanda in case one is interested in a Rwanda gorilla trekking safari. A Congo gorilla trekking tour permit costs only $400 however, it has two different gorilla species; Mountain Gorillas and Lowland Gorillas.