Gorillas in North America: Current Status

None—They Are Exclusively African

Gorillas do not exist in the wild in North America. Their native range is the forests of **Central and West Africa**:

• Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo
• Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon
• Nigeria, Rwanda, Uganda

Only **captive gorillas** live in North America—in AZA-accredited zoos (e.g., Bronx, San Diego, Atlanta, Calgary) participating in Species Survival Plans.

Any report of wild gorillas in NA is a hoax, misidentification (e.g., bear), or escaped captive (extremely rare, quickly resolved).