Facts About Gorillas: Facts of Gorillas, Facts on Gorillas

Naming and Identification Facts about Gorillas

These are the largest of the great apes found in the kingdom Animalia, class Mammalia, order primates, family hominidae, subfamily homininae, and genus Gorilla.

The name Gorilla is said to have been derived or developed by a Carthaginian man Hanno who through his view and sight of these creatures gave them an ancient Greek name “gorillai” which translates to “hairy person” and later they were called “gorilla” by an American man Thomas S. Savage.

Facts about Gorilla Species

The genus Gorilla is subdivided into two subspecies which are, the Eastern Gorilla “Gorilla beringei” and the Western gorilla “Gorilla gorilla”. These two subspecies are mostly found in most Equatorial Africa countries that is countries located on or near the equator separated by the 560 miles of Congo basin forest.

These two subspecies are further subdivided into four gorilla subspecies which are eastern lowland gorilla (G.b. graueri)., eastern mountain gorillas (G.b. beringei), western lowland gorillas (G.g. gorilla), and western cross river gorilla (G.g. diehli).

Relatively it is worth noting that these gentle giants are said to be the closest living relatives to humans and the largest of the great apes which are the orangutan, bonobo, chimpanzee, etc.

Genetic Facts about Gorillas

These are the largest of the great apes but despite being of different strength and appearance to humans, they share approximately 98.3% of their DNA with Humans making them the closest living relatives to humans after the chimpanzees and bonobos.

Facts on the Physical Characteristics and Appearance of Gorillas

When it comes to their physical appearance and characteristics, there several facts to look at and these are further broken down into several aspects that is to say:

Gorilla Size and Weight

In size and weight, they are the largest primates and are way heavier and bigger than humans, chimpanzees, and bonobos. That is to say on average a Gorilla can weigh approximately 70-220kg (300-485 pounds) with a height of about 4 to 6 feet tall.

However, this varies according to sex and species i.e. Males tend to be twice heavier than females. Mature males can weigh approximately 500 pounds and reach a height of 5.5 feet (1.7 meters) while adult females weigh approximately 70-90kg. It’s also worth noting that the Eastern lowland gorillas tend to be larger than the western gorilla species.

Gorillas’ Fur Color and Texture

These are extremely hairy and to the human eye, they may not be different from each other. However, these fur color and texture facts often help us differentiate them from their texture.

That is to say, for example, silverback males can be differentiated by looking at the sagittal crests along their midlines on the skull with a vivid presence of a ridge bone indicating strong jaw muscles, and also an area with white hair on the back which has made experts to term males as silverbacks.

Please note that these can also be differentiated by their fur i.e. the eastern gorillas have darker fur colors than the western lowland gorilla species.

Gorillas’ Facial Features and Body Structure

They are extremely large primates with small ears and eyes, black skin, large human-like hands, broad chests and shoulders, bigger stomachs, black hair on their bodies but not on the face, hands and feet, large nostrils that are as unique as human fingerprints as they have prints and muscular arms.

Despite having the capacity to stand upright, they prefer walking using their hands and legs (knuckle walk) and this is possible as they have arms longer than the legs.

Gorilla Muscle Mass

They are known as strong creatures and can be around 10 times stronger than an average man as they can bend iron bars and tear down banana trees with their muscular arms therefore making them more powerful than a lion. However, they are very gentle creatures that only reveal their strength once threatened.

Habitat and Distribution Facts about Gorillas

Gorilla facts closely related to their habitats and distribution entail, places they stay in, and where we can find them, to mention but a few.

Native Countries and Regions

These refer to countries places or regions where we can find these primates. The two types of gorillas live in sub-Saharan Africa on opposite sides of the Congo basin forest or the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo that is to say;

Eastern Gorillas being inhabited in Rwanda (Volcanoes National Park, Nyungwe National Park), Uganda (Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park), Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (Virunga National Park, Kahuzi-Biega National Park).

Western Gorillas are found in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park, Odzala-Kokoua National Park), Gabon (Ivindo National Park, Batéké Plateau National Park), Cameroon (Campo Ma’an National Park, Batouri Forest Reserve), Equatorial Guinea (Monte Pico Basile National Park, Monte Nieves Forest Reserve), Central African Republic (Dzanga-Sangha National Park, Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park) and Nigeria.

Forest Types and Elevations

In these native countries or regions, they live in both low habitats (at sea level) and high elevated habitats (mountains above 1400 meters), forest habitats (bamboo forests, subalpine grasslands, tropical and subtropical forest habitats) and sometimes build nests to sleep in at night on the ground or in trees.

It’s worth noting that these primates don’t sleep in the same nest twice so they’re always building nests for napping.

Climate

These primates live in various seasons and climates such as tropical climates characterized by high temperatures, high humidity, and heavy rainfall (with rains of about 1,000-2,000 mm/year) and Montane climates that are cool, misty, and foggy (with rains of about 500-1,000 mm/year).

The two species of gorillas, western lowland gorillas, and eastern lowland gorillas often prefer a mountain gorilla habitat with temperatures ranging between 20-30°C (68-86°F) while mountain gorillas live in places with temperatures around 10-20°C (50-68°F).

They also tend to have a high rate of adaptability and can adapt to several climates in various ways such as the use of vegetation for shelter and food, adjustment of activity patterns to temperature and humidity, use of water sources for drinking and cooling, through migration and dispersal to suitable habitats.

Migration Patterns and Territorial Behavioral Characteristics

Wild Gorillas are not territorial and therefore move around their habitats living in different family groups known as troops in overlapping areas most of the time. Each troop can have like up to 30 gorillas usually comprised of a male Gorilla, several female Gorillas, and their young offspring.

Diet and Nutrition Facts of Gorillas

They are highly vegetarian and herbivorous primates that primarily eat plants, fruits, and other plant-based foods such as leaves, seeds, roots, ants, termites and stems. Wild Gorillas eat up to 30kgs or 40 pounds of these plant-based foods per day.

Daily, the silverbacks lead their stable troops to a new location where the food is in plenty and the troop feeds in the morning, take a nap then eats again until they go to sleep.

Social Behavior and Structure Facts of Gorillas

Socially they have portrayed and displayed several behaviors that distinguish them from other primates.

Troop Dynamics and Hierarchy among Gorillas:

They are highly social animals that live in groups, called troops. The troop sizes can have around 5-30 primates and are highly polygamous with stable family groups that is to say they are led by a dominant male Gorilla (a strong and experienced silverback that leads the troop and mates with all female gorillas), several female Gorillas and their young offspring’s. The social hierarchy in these troops is often as follows; dominant male > dominant female > subordinate males > subordinate females.

Additionally, some female-led troops are led by a dominant female, especially in eastern lowland gorilla.

The ratio of male-female is approximately 1-2 males per 3-4 females. In a troop, the strong, experienced silverback leading the troop makes all the decisions for the troop and is responsible for the safety and well-being of the members of his troop, and also responsible for finding new locations for the troop to stay in which involves making nests too and looking for food sources.

For safety, the dominant silverback is often seen displaying acts of dominant aggressive males’ behavior if his troop is disturbed or notices unwanted visitors as a way of protecting his troop. These aggressive males’ behaviors can be in the form of chest-beating, short rushes towards unwanted parties, and vocal roars that often are effective in turning away intruders.

It’s also worth noting that when mountain gorillas reach old age, they often leave their original troops and form new troops with primates of the same age and leave the adult males’ offspring of the male lone silverback to take over the troop while old females look for single males (lone silverbacks) or join other troops that can accommodate them.

Communication Methods (Vocals, Body Language, Etc.) among Gorillas

Wild Gorillas use several communication methods to transmit messages amongst themselves and their surroundings and these are normally in the form of vocals or body language. These are gentle giants that are quite shy and quiet but to communicate they often either:

1. Roar (these are loud, powerful calls used to alert others to potential threats or to signal dominance.)
2. Chirp (these are high-pitched sounds, similar to bird-like calls used for long-distance communication or to initiate interaction)
3. Grunt (these are low, rumbling sounds often used in close-range contacts or reassurance)
4. Growl (these are low, rumbling sounds for threat or defense.)
5. Purr (these are soft, humming sounds for contentment, relaxation, or self-soothing)
6. Hoot (these are rather loud, high-pitched calls to alert others to food or to signal excitement.)
7. Whimper (these are soft, high-pitched sounds for distress, anxiety, or need.)
8. Snort (these are sharp, explosive sounds for alarm or surprise.).

It’s rather important to note that they use these sounds in conjunction with facial expressions, body language, emotions, and scent marking. They are often seen laughing expressing sadness or showing empathy towards each other.

Social Relationships and Interactions of Gorillas

When it comes to social relationships, there are several well-known Mountain Gorilla facts such as having complex social relationships and interactions which ultimately portray them as highly intelligent beings.

1. Bonds: That is to say, these have close bonds, often seen through physical contact and proximity for example they have strong lifelong mother-offspring bonds, close bonds between related adult females, strong male alliances (dominant male gorillas form alliances with subordinate males to create bachelor groups). There also exist strong and young adult male gorilla and female pair bonds that enable them to engage in polygynous mating and get offspring.
2. Unity: They are very social primates that also work together in unity especially when it comes to certain activities like childcare, territory and troop defense, hunting, nest building, etc. They also often encourage the young gorillas to engage in playful activities which helps them socialize and learn different skills.
3. Learning: One of the most known Mountain Gorilla facts is that they always learn from each other several aspects of their lives such as new survival skills, knowledge, grooming, tool use, social customs, and social behaviors.
4. Conflict Resolution/Reconciliation: Dominant silverbacks in troops often mediate disputes and maintain order in the troops as well as reconcile parties, so that their amendments after conflicts and social harmony and unity are upheld in the troops

Facts about the Intelligence and Mindful Abilities of Gorillas

One of the most interesting Gorilla facts is the fact that they have and express highly intelligent and mindful abilities, that often make people relate them to humans.

Emotional Expressions and Empathy among Gorillas

These have often been seen expressing emotional feelings through different gestures such as happiness through laughter, especially during plays, and sadness when grieving for a dead counterpart.

Additionally, they also emotionally express themselves through different communication methods such as vocals that range from roars, grunts, barks, hoots, whimpers, whines, screams, and chuckles paired with body language.

Problem-Solving and Tool Use by Gorillas

Several researchers, tourists, and scientists have time and time again spotted these primates displaying their intelligence through the use of a range of tools such as sticks to measure depths of rivers and streams to cross rivers, bamboo from the bamboo forests to make ladders that infant gorillas can use to reach tree bark and tops, twist to make cutlery that they use to scoop or get insects or break open termite nests.

Reproduction and Development Facts about Gorillas

The lifespan and existence of these primates are highly dependent on their reproduction and development and some of the famous mountain gorilla facts related to this aspect include but a few.

Mating Habits or Rituals of Gorillas

The facts about the mating rituals and habits of mountain Gorillas are quite interesting lot and rather complex i.e.

In the case of mating, in a troop, the strongest dominant silverback has the ultimate and priority access to mate with all the female gorillas in a troop during estrus (heat).

The silverbacks often guard the females jealously during heat and often also express their dominance over females and attract female gorillas they like by use of rituals like chest-beating, display of strength (tearing up banana trees, bend iron bars with their muscular arms), use of vocals like low grunts and roars, as well as scent marking where they rub their scent on females to mark territory and signal dominance.

Relatively females may as well choose to mate with the dominant silverback or other males in the troop when on heat or when they reach their birth group.

They often express their need to mate through different rituals and cues such as developing prominent swellings on their buttocks and genital area during estrus (heat) which they display to the male gorillas signaling receptiveness, they also use vocals to summon male gorillas such as soft calls or chirps to initiate interaction or signal interest, body language like maintaining eye contact with the males to show attraction and need to mate, touch and playful behavior when around male gorillas such as touching, teasing and tickling and relatively they can also use scent marking which is done by leaving their scent on objects or silverbacks to signal reproductive status and need among other tactics.

It’s important to note that these often mate or copulate when the silverback approaches from behind the female in a secluded area and mates, then after mating they may often groom each other or rest together.

Breeding, Pregnancy, and Birth amongst Gorillas

The breeding, pregnancies, and birth facts involve several astonishing facts as listed below.

1. Breeding: The females typically reach sexual maturity at approximately 7-12 years while young adult males gorillas reach sexual maturity at 15-20 years. They are very polygamous with dominant silverback mating with multiple female gorillas in the troop. Copulation and mating can occur throughout the year, but peaks during the dry season when most of them are on heat.
2. Pregnancy and Gestation Period: The gestation period of a gorilla is approximately 8.5 months (250-260 days) during which the pregnant females weigh significantly heavier with big bellies females often give birth to one infant at a time but around 2-6 offspring in their lifetime with an interbirth interval of 6-8 years apart which makes their reduction rate to be low hence making it difficult for them to recover from population declines.
3. Birth and Infant Care: Females after the gestation period often give birth in a secluded area, using natural vegetation or a nest. A Baby gorilla or young gorilla most times weighs about 4-5 pounds (1.8-2.3 kg) and is born with their eyes open and is relatively developed and always keeps clinging to the mother’s belly and back, staying in the mother’s nest, and she will care for it protectively. Young gorillas are very playful.
4. Post-Natal Care and Lactation: Females are often very protective of their baby gorilla and can nurse their young gorilla ones for about 3-4 years, although a baby gorilla starts eating solid foods at 6 months and carry them on their backs and teach them essential skills like foraging and social behavior.
5. Lifespan: The average life span of these primates is approximately 35 to 40 years in the wild. At maturity, old lone silverback males leave their group to form other Gorilla groups while the mature old females leave the troops to join other troops or groups of single lone silverbacks.

Facts about the Conservation Status, Efforts, and Threats related to Gorillas

Both the Eastern and Western lowland gorilla species are currently critically endangered according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Facts about the conservation status, efforts, and threats posed to these primates often revolve around the dangers they face which have put them in the endangered zone, how the dangers are being overcome, and their current status. And these include but a few;

Threats

The eastern and western gorillas face the same of the biggest threats day in day out such as human activities like poaching, hunting for bush meat, habitat destruction through logging and mining, fragmentation, deforestation, diseases like Ebola virus, human interference through agriculture, displacements of people following army conflicts who run an occupy gorilla habitats leading to habitat loss, transport corridors, illegal pet trade, all of which have left these primates endangered ultimately subjecting them to population declines.

Please note, that they have no natural threats but rather it’s the humans and human activities that are their biggest threat for example, the western cross-river gorillas are the most critically endangered gorilla subspecies, with only 200-300 individuals remaining as of today.

Conservation Efforts

Several organizations and wildlife conservationists have put in several efforts to protect the critically endangered gorillas from the existing threats and these include the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, World Wildlife Fund (WWF), International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as well as country governments that gorillas inhabit, this is being done through the setting up of protected areas and gorilla habitats for these primate populations, raising awareness about the need for the existence of these primates in local communities, for example, their foraging traits keep forests healthy.

African Countries have also set up laws in their respective countries regulating the capture, habitat loss, hunting, and poaching of these primates.

Conservation Status

Following the various efforts governments and organizations (World Wildlife Fund) have put in in recent years, there have been several success stories and progress that have been registered when it comes to protecting these primates and their habitats.

It’s worth noting that gorilla populations have tremendously increased because of the conservation efforts made by the governments and organizations i.e. Conservation efforts have contributed to a 26.3% increase in the population of mountain gorillas over the past seven years.

Other Wonders, Interesting Behaviors, and Adaptations Related to Mountain Gorillas

In addition, there exist some other wonders and unique habits that make these primates very intriguing primates such as;

• They have large nose prints that resemble human fingerprints and therefore experienced scientists can distinguish them from each other by closely looking at the shape of their noses in addition to other aspects like scars, marks, ridges, fur colors, etc.
• It was discovered that they can learn and use sign languages just like humans, this was evidenced by the female western lowland gorilla Hanabi or Koko who is said to have learned over 1000 signs and could understand around 2000 English words.
• They are highly intelligent creatures and have a high rate of adaptability to water for example, that is to say, they can wade and swim, which enables them to cross rivers and access water sources.
• Over time it has also been proven that they have become disease resistant to certain diseases such as malaria, which therefore helps them to survive in areas where such diseases are prevalent and hence ultimately maintain the ecological balance of their ecosystems.

FAQ [Frequently Asked Questions]

1.     What are 10 facts about gorillas?

• Adult male gorillas can weigh between 150-220 kg and reach 1.2-1.8 meters (4-6 feet) tall.
• They are one of the largest apes and belong to the order Primates, which includes chimpanzees, and monkeys.
• There are two species the Eastern Gorilla (Gorilla beringei) and Western Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla).
• They are primarily herbivorous species and therefore they eat plants, fruits, leaves, and stems.
• They use vocalizations (roars, grunts, and chirps), facial expressions, and body language to communicate with each other.
• They are highly intelligent and use tools, like sticks, to navigate their habitats and environment.
• They are very social animals that live in family groups (troops) with a dominant adult male (silverback), female gorillas, and their offspring.
• They are listed as the most endangered species due to habitat loss, poaching, and disease.
• They share approximately 98.8% of their DNA with humans, making them one of our closest living relatives.
• They have a high rate of adaptability and therefore are capable swimmers and have been observed wading and swimming in rivers and lakes.

2.     What is unique about gorillas?

They have large, human-like hands that have distinct fingerprints just like humans that can be used to identify them, with muscular arms that are longer than their legs.

3.     How intelligent are gorillas?

These are highly intelligent beings as witnessed by their abilities for example to use tools like sticks to navigate their environment, ability to remember where they found food and water sources, ability to form family social groups and understand hierarchies, ability to show empathy, adapt to situations among others.

4.     How much does a gorilla weigh?

An average gorilla can weigh approximately 70-220kg (300-485 pounds) with a height of about 4 to 6 feet.

5.     Where do gorillas live?

They are the largest of the great apes that are mostly found in most Equatorial African countries or in central Africa and as per species, the Eastern Gorilla species live in Rwanda (Volcanoes National Park, Nyungwe National Park), Uganda (Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park), and DR Congo (Virunga National Park, Kahuzi-Biega National Park).

The Western Gorillas are found in the Eastern DR Congo (Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park, Odzala-Kokoua National Park), Gabon (Ivindo National Park, Batéké Plateau National Park), Cameroon (Campo Ma’an National Park, Batouri Forest Reserve), Equatorial Guinea (Monte Pico Basile National Park, Monte Nieves Forest Reserve), Central African Republic (Dzanga-Sangha National Park, Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park) and Nigeria.

All these facts about Gorillas found in sub-Saharan Africa, and central Africa will leave anyone in awe. To experience and witness these firsthand, book a gorilla trekking safari tour with us today and have a memorable experience!las do for fun?