Gorillas are the largest primates in existence and are closely related to humans, sharing a high percentage of our genes. These animals are amazing, to the point that there are those who give them intelligence capabilities because of their ways of communicating and because they manage to develop skills with the use of tools. But like a high percentage of animal biodiversity, gorillas are highly threatened.
In this tab on our site, we want to present you with information about the characteristics, habitat and customs of the western gorilla, read on and discover their most outstanding features.
Characteristics of the western gorilla
Gorillas are rather big, robust primates and with surprising strength that corresponds to its weight and size. There is sexual dimorphism in the species, since males are larger than females, reaching a weight of about 180 kg in their natural state. But in captivity they can reach 275 kg. For their part, females generally reach half these weights. In terms of height, on average, the former measure 1.75 m and the latter 1.25 m
These animals are almost completely covered with rough, deep black fur, except for the face, ears, hands and the feet. Individuals with a slightly brown to gray coloration can be found in this species. There is a peculiarity regarding the coat of the males, with age, some develop a gray coloration on the back and one of these dominant males assumes control of the group. This has caused them to be known as silverback
Western gorillas have short snouts, small eyes and ears, and large nostrils, so they stand out from the face. As for their jaws, they are also large, provided with strong and wide teeth. These animals have opposable thumbs, like human beings, a characteristic that endows them with certain abilities in terms of manipulation with the hands.
Western gorilla subspecies
The western gorilla belongs to the Gorilla gorilla species and is divided into two subspecies:
- Western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla)
- The Cross River Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla diehli)
Western gorilla habitat
Western gorillas develop mainly in secondary forests, with an open canopy that allows good solar incidence on the ground. The rivers of the region and the fragmentation of the habitat are the barriers that this species commonly has.
The western lowland gorilla can be found in both swampy areas and forests of lowland mainland, located in Cameroon south of the Congo River and also east of the Ubangi River. For its part, the Cross River gorilla subspecies is found in the border area between Nigeria and Cameroon. In the upper area of the Cross River, distributed in fairly remote forests, most likely to seek distance from human activities such as hunting, but it may eventually be in lowland areas.
Western Gorilla Customs
This species of gorilla usually live in groups, with a certain difference in numbers depending on the subspecies. The Cross River gorilla tends to congregate in as many as 20 individuals, while the western lowland gorilla lives in average congregations of 10 gorillas.
In these families there is a silverback male who is the dominant and the females with their young. However, it is common for younger males to also live near the main group. The silverbacks can be displaced by another younger male that shows greater strength. When this happens, usually the new leader, kills the offspring of the previous, in order to stop the mothers from nursing and enter the reproductive phase, way that seeks to guarantee the production of its offspring. The displaced individual will generally lead a solitary life.
Gorillas are usually shy and peaceful but this does not detract from their ferocity, especially the males, who can be quite aggressive and dangerous intruders or if they feel threatened. A typical behavior of an upset male is to beat himself on the chest in an upright position, in addition to growling loudly.
These animals have the habit of forming kinds of nests with branches, which they can do in a tree or on the ground, which will help them to sleep. On the other hand, it is also common for them to groom each other.
Western gorilla feeding
The western gorilla is primarily a herbivorous species, consuming stems of juicy plants, but also includes leaves, berries, and bark that are stringy.
The subspecies Gorilla gorilla diehli consumes terrestrial herbs and barks throughout the year, while the fruits are limited to seasonality. For its part, the Gorilla gorilla gorilla feeds on species such as Aframomum spp and also consumes the leaves and shoots of the Marantaceae family. As for the fruits, they also depend on the season. Additionally, this subspecies includes ants, termites and some aquatic plants in its diet.
These animals feed mainly in the morning and in the afternoon, spending hours in this activity. On the other hand, they are capable of climbing great heights to obtain food from some trees.
Western Gorilla Reproduction
Females sexually mature at 10 years, while males do so at 18. The trend is that the dominant male he is the one who mates with the females of the group, and due to his skills and strength, he is preferred by them.
As it happens in humans, gorillas do not have a particular time to reproduce and females have menstruation cycles every 28 days. Gestation time tends to be about 256 days, about nine months and he is born a single calf weighing approximately 2 kg.
Newborns are breastfed for long periods, between 4 and 5 years, during which time they reach independence. Females usually reproduce in intervals between 4 to 6 years An important fact is that newborn mortality can even reach 65%. However, although the males do not interact much with their children, they do protect the family group with ferocity.
Conservation status of the western lowland gorilla
The western gorilla is declared Critically Endangered, with a declining population trend. This is mainly due to the slaughter of this animal for its meat consumption, despite the fact that any activity of hunting or capturing it is illegal. The levels of extraction of the species are alarming and massive, even in protected areas.
Especially the Cross River gorilla subspecies, is heavily impacted, being small and fragmented. Gorillas suffer the consequences of opportunistic hunting, that is, many hunters looking for other species take advantage of the encounter with these animals. Also, it is common for them to get caught in traps used for other animals.
On the other hand, a large part of the territory has been given in concessions for logging, so the habitat is heavily intervened. Additionally, contagion with the Ebola virus is another important cause that affects these populations of primates. As if these aspects were not enough, it is estimated that climate change will significantly affect the habitat of the species and therefore itself.
There are laws throughout the region where the western gorilla lives. However, there are great inconsistencies in their application, so the end result is the tragic consequences described.
