According to the most recent census, the mountain gorilla population living in the Virunga mountains in Africa has grown from 480 in 2010 to 604 as of June 2016.

Add another couple hundred apes living in scattered habitats to the south, and their population as a whole totals more than 1,000.

mountain gorillas on the rise
Photo credit: The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund

This reconfirms the mountain gorilla’s status as the only wild ape population whose numbers are known to be increasing, and research shows the increase is due to the type of intensive daily protection provided by the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund and the park authorities of Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

“Today’s announcement represents a huge success for conservation at a time…