Habitat loss: This is one the most severe threats to gorilla populations.

Miss Fossey, a Californian, moved here in 1967, a time when the gorilla population was dwindling rapidly from a recent high of 450 in 1960.

In 1981, the Columbus Zoo selected it to take hand and foot prints of its gorilla population.

The Grauer's gorilla population was uneven in the park, with denser pockets in the northern region.

The recovery of the gorilla population from 260 in the 1970s to today's figure of 320 has hitherto been hailed as a conservation miracle.

In the 1980s, a census of the gorilla populations in equatorial Africa was thought to be 100,000.

Primatologists continue to explore the relationships between various gorilla populations.

The gorilla population has been seriously reduced and is now critically endangered.

While the virus is estimated to have killed much of the gorilla population and there are rare local outbreaks, it is not considered a threat to tourists.

The gorilla populations live some distance from the refugee camps and have not been threatened by the refugees, Mr. Languy said.