Within the primates we find the gorillas, which correspond to the largest of the aforementioned order. These animals are, after chimpanzees, the closest genetically to humans, such that we share 97-98% of genes
Gorillas are animals that are considered highly intelligent, and some research with individuals in captivity (despite some opinions to the contrary), has shown that they are capable of communication through learning and subsequent use of various symbols. On the other hand, observations in their natural habitat have shown that gorillas are capable of using tools for various purposes, such as feeding and scaring away other animals. But these hominids are in extreme conditions due to poaching and destruction of their habitat, making them critically endangered. On our site we want to bring you information about them, and in this particular case an article about where gorillas live
Types of gorillas and characteristics
Currently, gorillas are divided into two species, which are the western gorilla (Gorilla gorilla) and the eastern gorilla (Gorilla beringei), each of these in turn has two living subspecies, although highly threatened.
Among the main characteristics of gorillas we can mention:
- Size: they generally measure between a little over 1 m and 1.8 m, although larger individuals have been reported. In terms of weight, females do not usually exceed 100 kg and males can reach up to 200 kg.
- Behavior: they maintain a highly social behavior, living in groups, which are led by a dominant male, known as a silverback, by the presence of a patch of silver hairs in this area.
- Food: the diet is mainly herbivorous, consuming fruits, stems, leaves and shoots. However, they may eventually include larvae and insects.
- Life expectancy: Gorillas usually don't live to exceed 50 years.
- Extremities: they use their upper extremities to support themselves and walk, because these are longer than the lower ones. They have opposable thumbs on both hands and feet. They also have unique fingerprints, as well as fingernails instead of claws.
- Fur: The color of the fur varies between species and subspecies, but is found between dark colors, such as black, brown or gray. In all cases there is an absence of hair around the nose and mouth, as well as on the chest, ears, palms of the hands and feet.
In addition to all of the above, it should be noted that gorillas have incredible strength, as we explain in this other article on our site about The strength of gorillas.
Where do western gorillas live?
Western gorillas currently inhabit the following regions: Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Nigeria. These correspond to the species Gorilla gorilla, which in turn has two subspecies:
- The western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla).
- The Cross River gorilla (Gorilla gorilla diehli).
Western gorillas are not territorial with other groups of the same species, so overlapping populations do not usually cause conflict. Their groups are made up of a silverback male, eventually some other subordinate males, and the females with their young. They have diurnal and semi-terrestrial habits, and daily build nests with branches on the ground or eventually low in a tree, where they will sleep all night.
Cross River Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla diehli) Habitat
Cross River gorillas are located in remote areas where human presence is limited, so they are in fairly dense forest, between Nigeria and Cameroon; although they can also move to lower ground between the hills
They are distributed over a range generally of about 30 km, in groups made up of up to 20 individuals. Their diet is based on herbs and barks available throughout the year and seasonal fruits at the respective times.
Western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) habitat
This subspecies is home to both swamps and lowlands of various types of forests present in Western Equatorial Africa, so they are located in regions such as: Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. They have a distribution range of about 25 km, in groups of 10 individuals on average, but sometimes they exceed 20.
The areas where they are generally found are dominated by monocotyledons and their diet is mainly based on consuming the internal parts of plants of the genus Aframomum, leaves and shoots, including some aquatic species, as well as seasonal fruits. This subspecies includes ants and termites in its diet.
Where do eastern gorillas live?
Eastern gorillas belong to the species Gorilla beringei, which occurs in Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and Uganda. They are distributed between 600 and 3,800 meters high. This species contains the following subspecies:
- Grauer's gorilla (Gorilla beringei graueri).
- Mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei).
These also have a social behavior, with the presence of the dominant male. Although they are not territorial either, they can have fights with other groups, especially if a dominant male is present.
In the same way, they usually make nests to sleep and divide the day between feeding, moving within their distribution range and resting. It is common for grooming between females and males or only between females. They have a largely herbivorous diet.
Habitat of the Grauer's gorilla (Gorilla beringei graueri)
This subspecies is endemic to the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and has an irregular distribution from the Lualaba River plains to the Mitumba mountain range and the Itombwe massif. Habitat includes tropical rainforests, transitional, montane, and bamboo forests, as well as swamps and peat bogs.
They are not usually aggressive, they are sociable and the direction of the groups, which can reach up to 30 individuals, depends on the silverback male, who guides the others to the places to feed and sleep.
Habitat of the mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei)
This subspecies is restricted to two populations about 25 km apart, but they are separated by densely populated and cultivated human areas. One of the villages is located in the Virunga volcanic area, between the borders of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and Uganda. The other is in the Bwindi National Park in Uganda, although there is also a small group in the Sarambwe Nature Reserve in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The habitat is mainly made up of cloud forests, quite dense and very difficult to penetrate, and the subspecies prefers to stay away from contact human. They feed on more than 100 different types of plants, consuming their leaves, stems, roots and fruits, depending on availability, and may also include the ingestion of certain invertebrates.
Gorilla Conservation Status
All gorilla species are currently Critically Endangered, due to poaching for the consumption of their meat and habitat modification.
Despite various efforts that generate actions for the conservation of species and the establishment of the illegality of hunting these animals, in most cases hunger and human conflicts exceed the provisions legal, also impacting the stability of these species.
