Hairless silverback gorilla1/6/2024 The total population of the mountain gorilla is about 880, but they have shown an increase in numbers. The western lowland gorilla has the largest population, at about 100,000. Gorillas display many human behaviors, like laughter and sadness. Females give birth to one gorilla every four to six years. Gorillas are very dependent on their mothers until they are about three years old. They begin to crawl when they are two months old and start walking at eight or nine months. At birth, gorilla infants weigh 3-4 pounds. When gorillas are very young, they share a nest with their mothers.įemale gorillas give birth to one baby at a time. At night, they form “nests” of leaves and other plant material to sleep in. They often establish their new family group very close to their original family group. When he feels threatened, the silverback will beat his chest and charge.Īs young males get older, they leave their family group to live alone or to create a family group of their own. The rest of the group is made up of females, their children, and younger males called blackbacks.Īs the leader, the silverback chooses when the group eats, sleeps, and travels. The leader of the group is the oldest, largest silverback (adult male). They break apart termite nests to eat the larvae (baby termites). Western lowland gorillas also feast on termites and ants. They eat bamboo shoots, roots, leaves, vines, and fruits. Western lowland gorillas can be found in several areas: Cameroon, Nigeria, the Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and Angola.Ĭross River gorillas (a subspecies of western gorillas) live in a small region in Nigeria and Cameroon. Mountain gorillas (a subspecies of eastern gorillas) live only in the Virunga mountain region. Gorillas live in central and eastern Africa.Įastern lowland gorillas dwell in part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and Rwanda. This is why they’re sometimes called “silverbacks.” Watch this close encounter with a silverback gorilla from BBC Earth! Male gorillas of both species have an area of white hair on their backs. Their hair is usually gray or brown, and it’s often red on their heads. Eastern gorillas are bigger and have longer, darker fur. The two main species of gorillas are western gorillas and eastern gorillas. They often walk on all four limbs at once, called “knuckle walking.” Gorillas also have very big hands and broad shoulders and chests. They have black, hairless faces with small eyes and large nostrils. They are the largest primates in the world. They are usually 4 to 6 feet tall and weigh up to 440 pounds. Let’s explore more facts about these gentle giants! Be sure to watch our video on silverback gorillas and at the end of the article, try out our fun activity! They’re also some of the closest genetic relatives to humans. Gorillas are some of the world’s most intelligent animals, and some of the most endangered.
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