Every gorilla has a unique fingerprint just like humans.
Gorillas are considered to be one of the most intelligent animals in the world. They are able to process information and to think independently.
Gorillas can walk upright but prefer to do so on their knuckles.
They have four fingers and a thumb just like humans.
Gorillas don’t have tails as many other primates do.
They are able to see in color. All of their senses are very highly developed.
They are able to grasp items with both their hands and their feet.
When male gorillas are about 12 years of age they can develop silver coloring on their back. This is where the name silverback comes from but many people assume that is a species of gorilla but it isn’t. Silverbacks are the mature males in troops. They are very kind hearted though, and will even care for orphaned offspring on their own.
A group of gorillas that live together are called a troop.
When the dominant male in a troop dies or is killed, then the troop will go their separate ways and find new groups to be a part of. However, if a younger male challenges the leader and wins then he becomes the new leader and the troop stays intact.
Gorillas aren’t meat eaters, that is a common myth.
Gorillas move every day for food and for exploration. They never sleep in the same place two nights in a row!
They will never sleep in the same nest twice. They make a new one when they nap in the afternoon and before they sleep for the night.
A female gorilla is ready to reproduce when she is around eight years old. She must first leave the safety of her own troop and find another troop or a lone silverback to live with.
Mother gorillas will continue to carry their offspring for about 2.5 years even though they are able to walk when they are 8 months old.
They are migrational animals, moving in search of food at the command of the leader. They may only move a short distance each day or they can travel several miles depending on what the food sources available happen to be.
Although they have no discernible language, it is estimated that gorillas have at least 22 distinct sounds, which they use for communication.
A gorilla will typically spend a third of the day eating, a third of the day foraging for food and playing, with the rest of the time spent resting and sleeping.
Where gorillas live:
Gorillas are ground dwelling and primarily live in tropical forests in Africa:
The western lowland gorilla can be found in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Gabon, Congo and Equatorial Guinea.
The eastern lowland gorilla can be found in Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The mountain gorilla can be found around the Virunga volcanoes in high-altitude tropical forests in Rwanda, Uganda and Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The Cross River gorilla can be found in a small area between Nigeria and Cameroon.
Conservation status: Endangered to Critically Endangered
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