types of gorillas in africa
Western lowland gorillas are native to several areas of Africa including Angola, Congo, and Cameroon. This is the type of gorilla that is frequently seen in zoos. The western lowland is the smallest of the great apes. Adults are about 5 feet 7 inches (1.7 meters) tall and weigh 400 pounds (180 kg). As of 2008, there were an estimated 125,000 western lowland gorillas living in Africa.
Gorillas are ground-dwelling, predominantly herbivorous apes that inhabit the forests of central Africa. The eponymous genus Gorilla is divided into two species: the eastern gorillas and the western gorillas (both critically endangered), and either four or five subspecies. They are the largest living primates.
Gorillas have a patchy distribution. The range of the two species is separated by the Congo River and its tributaries. The western gorilla lives in west central Africa, while the eastern gorilla lives in east central Africa.