| Tom Levitt, MSN Environment |
Gorillas: Our closest relatives
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The threats facing gorillas are ever-increasing and wide ranging; deforestation, habitat loss, hunting and disease.
All four gorilla subspecies are classified as endangered or critically endangered. But thankfully there are a number of conservation projects up and running helping to protect our closest animal relatives from extinction.
The Zoological Society of London (ZSL), a charity that also runs London Zoo, has projects to conserve western lowland gorillas in Gabon and mountain gorillas and eastern lowland gorillas in Democratic Republic of Congo.
It also keeps four gorillas, Bobby, a Silverback male and three females; Zaire, Effie and Mjukuu at an enclosure in London Zoo. You can find out more about the animals below.

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