The
eastern gorilla (
Gorilla beringei) is a
species of the
genus Gorilla and the largest living
primate. At present, the species is subdivided into two
subspecies. The
eastern lowland gorilla (
G. b. graueri) is the most populous, at about 5,000 individuals. The
mountain gorilla (
G. b. beringei) has only about 700 individuals. In addition, scientists are considering elevating the
Bwindi gorilla population (which numbers about half of the mountain gorilla population) to the rank of subspecies.