However, a survey in 2021 gave an estimate of up to 6,800 suggesting the decline was not as bad as feared although they are still facing severe threats.

[5] Outside their native range, only one female eastern lowland gorilla lives in captivity, at the Antwerp Zoo in Belgium.

One of the most studied eastern lowland gorilla population lives in the highlands of Kahuzi-Biega, where habitats vary between dense primary forests to moderately moist woodland, to Cyperus swamp and peat bog.

The eastern lowland gorilla shows a preference for regenerating vegetation associated with abandoned villages and fields.

[12] The eastern lowland gorilla has a varied plant diet including fruits, leaves, stems and bark as well as small insects such as ants and termites.

Relatively little is known about the social behaviour, history and ecology of eastern lowland gorillas, partly because of civil war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

[15] It is eaten by displaced peoples residing in the region affected by the civil war, militia groups and loggers and miners.

[16] Surveys have shown that great apes, chimpanzees and bonobos comprise 0.5–2% of the meat found in bushmeat markets.

Endangered Species International stated that 300 gorillas are killed each year to supply the bushmeat markets in the Congo.

[12] Civil unrest in the Democratic Republic of Congo has resulted in a decline in eastern lowland gorillas.

The civil war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo means military groups remain in the forest for long periods of time.

[17] Researchers have also stated that it is more difficult to patrol areas outside of the park and expect to find even higher levels of poaching.

[12] Coltan in particular is one of the main export resources bought by multinational corporations illegally and is growing in demand due to its use for cellphones.

[12] Approximately two million people, directly and indirectly related to the Rwandan genocide in 1994, fled to Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, mainly in Virunga National Park.

[12] It has been estimated that there were 720,000 refugees living in five camps in the DRC bordering the park (Katale, Kahindo, Kibumba, Mugunga and Lac Vert), 24.

[12] Once the Congo war began in 1996, 500,000 refugees remained, putting pressure on the natural resources, including the eastern lowland gorilla.

[12] On 22 July 2007, 10 gorillas were killed in retaliation for the park rangers' interference with the exportation of illegal resources such as wood.

These militia groups trade minerals and timber illegally in exchange for arms from neighbouring countries, corrupt officials and subsidiaries of many multinational companies.

[12] Gorillas are also threatened directly by militia groups because of the prevalence of booby traps placed randomly throughout the forest.