Gorilla

Gorillas are very large apes.

They live in the green forests of Africa. Some live in wet swamps. Others live in high mountains.

Gorillas eat many things. They like leaves and stems. They also eat fruit and ants.

They live in groups. The leader is a big male. He has silver hair on his back. We call him a silverback.

Gorillas make nests to sleep in. They use branches and leaves. They make a new nest every day.

Gorillas are the largest living primates.

They are great apes that live in Africa. There are two main species. One is the western gorilla. The other is the eastern gorilla. Western gorillas live in lowland swamps and forests. Eastern gorillas live in higher forests and mountains. The mountain gorilla has the thickest hair.

Gorillas live in groups called troops. A leader leads the group. This leader is a male called a silverback. He has silver hair on his back.

Gorillas eat plants like leaves and stems. Some gorillas also eat fruit. Some even eat ants or termites. They get much of their water from juicy plants.

These animals move by knuckle-walking. This means they walk on their knuckles. They also spend time climbing in trees.

At night, they build nests to sleep in. They use branches and leaves to make a nest. They make a new nest every single day. Gorillas are critically endangered. This means they face many threats to their survival.

Gorillas are the largest living primates on our planet.

They are great apes that live in the tropical forests of Africa. Scientists divide them into two main species: the western gorilla and the eastern gorilla. These animals are very close relatives to humans. In fact, our DNA is between 96% and 99% similar to theirs. This makes them the next closest relatives to us after chimpanzees and bonobos. They are amazing creatures that help us understand more about our own history.

Gorillas have a very interesting way of moving and living. Most of the time, they move by knuckle-walking. This means they use their knuckles to support their weight as they walk.

They can also walk upright for short distances, like when carrying food. Some gorillas spend a lot of time climbing in trees to find food.

At night, they build nests out of branches and leaves to sleep in. They make a fresh nest every single day to rest safely.

People have been learning about gorillas for a very long time. The name "gorilla" comes from an explorer named Hanno the Navigator. He traveled to the coast of Africa around 500 BC. Later, in 1847, Thomas Staughton Savage and Jeffries Wyman first described the western gorilla. They used scientific names to help classify the animal. Over the years, many scientists have studied how these apes live. This work helps us understand how they are different from other apes.

There are many specific facts about how big and strong gorillas are. Adult male gorillas are called silverbacks because they have silver hair on their backs.

These males can be very heavy and tall. One silverback recorded in Cameroon weighed 225 kilograms.

Females are usually smaller and shorter than the males. Gorillas can live about 35 to 40 years in the wild. Some gorillas in zoos have even lived to be 50 years old or more. The oldest male ever recorded was named Ozoum, and he lived to be 61.

Gorillas live in many different places across Africa. Some live in lowland swamps near sea level.

Others live high up in the mountains. The mountain gorilla lives in very high, cold forests and has the thickest hair. Most gorillas eat plants like leaves, stems, and shoots. They do not need to drink much water because they get moisture from juicy plants. Sadly, many gorillas are critically endangered today. They face hard jobs like habitat destruction and disease, but people are working hard to protect them.

Gorillas are large, herbivorous great apes found in the tropical forests of equatorial Africa.

They are the largest living primates on Earth. These animals are remarkably close biological relatives to humans. Human DNA is between 96% and 99% similar to gorilla DNA. This genetic connection makes them the next closest living relatives to humans after bonobos and chimpanzees. Because of their size and intelligence, they are a major focus of biological study.

Gorillas move through their environment in several specific ways. Most often, they use a method called knuckle-walking. This involves supporting their weight on their knuckles while moving on all fours.

However, recent studies show they are more flexible than once thought. In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, researchers found mountain gorillas use their fists, palms, and the backs of their hands. They can also walk upright for short distances, such as when carrying food or in defensive situations.

While often seen on the ground, some gorillas also spend significant time climbing trees to feed on leaves.

Scientists classify gorillas into two main species: the western gorilla and the eastern gorilla. Each species is further divided into subspecies. For example, the eastern species includes the mountain gorilla and the eastern lowland gorilla. The western species includes the western lowland gorilla and the Cross River gorilla. These groups are separated geographically, often by the Congo River. Differences between them include hair color, size, and facial width. The eastern gorilla typically has darker fur and a longer face than the western gorilla.

Human history with the name "gorilla" stretches back thousands of years. The term originated from Hanno the Navigator, a Carthaginian explorer around 500 BC. He encountered hairy people on the West African coast whom his interpreters called "Gorillae." It is unclear if he saw actual gorillas or another species. Much later, in 1847, Thomas Staughton Savage and Jeffries Wyman provided the first formal scientific description of the western gorilla. They originally placed them in the chimpanzee genus, naming them *Troglodytes gorilla*.

Physical characteristics vary greatly between males and females. Adult males are known as silverbacks because they develop silver hair on their backs reaching to the hips.

These males are much larger than females. A recorded silverback in Cameroon weighed 225 kilograms.

The tallest recorded silverback had an arm span of 274 centimeters and weighed 218 kilograms. Females are shorter and more slender. In terms of lifespan, wild gorillas live 35 to 40 years. However, some in captivity have lived over 50 years. The oldest male ever recorded was Ozoum, who lived to be 61 years and 24 days.

Gorillas live in diverse habitats ranging from sea-level swamps to high mountains.

Mountain gorillas live in high-altitude cloud forests and have the thickest hair to stay warm. Lowland gorillas live in dense forests and marshes. Their diets change based on where they live. Mountain gorillas eat mostly foliage like stems and shoots. Eastern lowland gorillas have more varied diets, with fruit making up 25% of what they eat. Western lowland gorillas rely heavily on fruit and must travel up to 22 kilometers per day to find it.

Interestingly, they rarely need to drink water because they get moisture from succulent plants and dew.

Conservation is a critical issue for these primates. Both the western and eastern species are classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN. The mountain gorilla is slightly less threatened, classified as Endangered. There are approximately 316,000 western gorillas and 5,000 eastern gorillas remaining in the wild. They face many threats, including habitat destruction, disease, and poaching. Protecting their forests is essential for their survival. Scientists and conservationists continue to work in these regions to ensure these great apes do not disappear.