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Eastern Gorilla
Gorilla beringei
Silhouette: T. Michael Keesey (after Colin M. L. Burnett) · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassMammalia (Mammals)
- OrderPrimates
- FamilyHominidae (Great Apes)
- GenusGorilla (Gorillas)
- SpeciesGorilla beringei (Eastern Gorilla)
In 3 days >90%
137 Verified sightings at Volcanoes National Park From 2019 to 2026
560 In all 3 parks
August Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted
Completed
Completed
About the Eastern Gorilla
The eastern gorilla (Gorilla beringei) is a critically endangered species of the genus Gorilla and the largest living primate. At present, the species is subdivided into two subspecies. Illegal hunting threatens the species.
There are two recognised subspecies of eastern gorilla: the mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei) of the volcanic slopes of Rwanda, Uganda and eastern Democratic Republic of Congo; and the eastern lowland gorilla or Grauer's gorilla (Gorilla beringei graueri) in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The eastern lowland gorillas and mountain gorillas were previously thought to be two of the three subspecies of one single species, the gorilla (Gorilla gorilla). However, genetic research has shown that the two eastern subspecies are far more closely related than the western subspecies: the western lowland gorilla (G. gorilla gorilla), which justified the separate classification. The two eastern subspecies are now classified as G. beringei.
The eastern gorilla is a large hominid with a large... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Eastern Gorilla in Volcanoes National Park
LIVEiNaturalistGlobal Distribution
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Volcanoes National Park | 🇷🇼 Rwanda | |
| 2 | Bwindi Impenetrable National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda | |
| 3 | Virunga National Park | 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo |
Zoos & Centres Where Found
| # | Zoo / Centre | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bronx Zoo | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | National Zoological Garden of South Africa | 🇿🇦 South Africa |
Closest Relatives at Volcanoes National Park
Before you go
What are the chances of seeing an Eastern Gorilla in Volcanoes National Park?
Very likely
About 80% of wildlife watchers report an Eastern Gorilla sighting in Volcanoes National Park on a given day, based on 137 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. Over three days the chance rises to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.
When is the best time to see an Eastern Gorilla in Volcanoes National Park?
May–June, August and November
In those months about 90% of wildlife watchers report an Eastern Gorilla in Volcanoes National Park on a given day, against about 40% in April, the lowest month.
What time of day is best to see an Eastern Gorilla?
Between 10 am and 1 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Eastern Gorilla sightings with a recorded time, and nearly all of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Is Volcanoes National Park the best place to see an Eastern Gorilla?
Yes
Of the 3 parks where we can rate Eastern Gorilla sightings, Volcanoes National Park has the highest daily chance: about 80%. Next come Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Uganda, about 80%) and Virunga National Park (Democratic Republic of the Congo, about 60%).
Where does the Eastern Gorilla sighting chance come from?
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Eastern Gorilla is recorded against all the mammals logged in Volcanoes National Park (137 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
