Western Lowland Gorilla

Gorillas are herbivores, eating mainly juicy stemmed plants, but also consuming leaves, berries, ferns and fibrous bark.

At the Zoo, gorillas enjoy a diet of assorted fruits and vegetables, nuts, a specialty biscuit formulated for primates, and assorted browse.

Currently found in Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic (CAR), mainland Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Nigeria and Republic of Congo. Until recently, the core population had an almost continuous distribution from southern CAR to the Congo River and west to the coast.

Tropical forests with an open canopy allowing light to reach the forest floor.

Predation on adult gorillas is not common. Young gorillas may be vulnerable to large raptors and carnivores.

Habitat destruction and deforestation caused by palm oil plantations, mining, and human settlements are the primary threats to gorillas. Additionally, infectious diseases negatively affect their populations. Although there are laws in place prohibiting their capture and hunting in all eight countries of their native range, poaching continues to pose a significant threat to western lowland gorillas.

Coarse, dark hair covers their body except for the face, ears, hands, and feet. Their skin is jet black. As males enter adulthood, they develop a broad, silvery white saddle of hair along the back, extending over their rump as they age. This coloration pattern has resulted in older males being known as "silverbacks."

Western gorillas' hands are proportionately large, with nails on all digits and very large thumbs. They frequently stand upright but walk using all four limbs, with hands curled and knuckles touching the ground. Walking this way requires long arms, and gorillas' arm spans are longer than their standing height.

Gorillas give birth to a single offspring, with twins being rare, every three to four years. Their gestation period is 255 to 265 days, or about eight and a half months.

Gorillas communicate through calls, facial expressions, physical postures, and touch.

Gorillas are generally peaceful, shy, and amiable unless threatened. Male gorillas will charge toward perceived intruders but rarely hit them. If the threat persists, they may charge again.

Gorillas live in close-knit groups called troops, usually consisting of one dominant male, many adult females, and their young. The silverback heads the group as long as he can defeat competing males, although he may ultimately be driven out to live a solitary life. Young silverbacks are often driven out of the group and may spend several years alone or with other young males before establishing their own group. A hierarchy exists with females in the troop, as well.

Gorillas are nest builders and will generally create a new nest of foliage every night to sleep in.