Challenges and Threats Facing Gorilla beringei graueri in Kahuzi-Biega National Park and Conservation Strategies

Gorillas play important roles in the sustainability of biodiversity and in the cultures of Indigenous communities, offering unique biological behaviors and contributing to forest regeneration. Grauer’s gorilla (Gorilla beringei graueri) is one of the flagship species of biodiversity in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In this study, we carried out a systematic review to assess the challenges and threats facing Gorilla beringei graueri, as well as conservation strategies. We used search engines such as Google Scholar, Web of Science, Baidu, and China National Knowledge Internet (CNKI) to screen for literature published in the period between 2000 and 2025. We found that the existence of Grauer’s gorilla is under constant threat from an increasing demand for precious minerals, the establishment of mining sites in the forests, and the establishment of new road networks in the gorillas’ range, as well as from poaching, deforestation, and climate change. These pressures have exacerbated the decline of the Grauer’s gorilla population, necessitating attention from both the DRC and the global community to safeguard this endangered species. Several strategies for the conservation of Grauer’s gorilla are already underway in the Kahuzi-Biega National Park; these aim to reduce or contain the threats and challenges facing Grauer’s gorilla. This comprehensive review serves as a recommendation to Indigenous communities, local people, government agencies, conservation NGOs, and the public, encouraging them to understand the consequences of the decline in the Grauer’s gorilla population and to advocate for urgent and effective conservation strategies.