A typical group consists of one silverback, one immature silverback, one immature male, three to four adult females, and three to six youngsters under eight years old. A female will usually transfer to another group, particularly if the silverback is her father and there are no other suitable males to mate with. They care for their babies with great affection, patience and playfulness. Gorillas also chuckle, smile and purr. They are gentle and intelligent.
Gorillas feel deeply and remember for years.
Groups are not territorial and generally avoid each other, but when they do meet, sometimes threats and fighting occur, with the silverback remaining to challenge the attacker while the rest of the group flees. To intimidate his opponent, the silverback stands upright to appear larger, beats on his chest, roars, waves his arms, tears branches and charges. This is all done to frighten off, not harm, other males. Distress behavior includes diarrhea and strong, pungent body odor. Because of the actions of male gorillas protecting their groups with such determination from hunters, humans developed a folklore about the ferocity of gorillas.