Gorilla Facts For Kids - Information About Gorillas Contact Gorilla Facts For Kids Want to know more about one of your close relatives? Read our gorilla facts for kids to learn about these fearsome, but peaceful, animals. This article is part of our African Animals series. Gorilla Facts: Introduction Gorillas are the world’s largest primates. They are members of the Hominidae family. This family is also known as the ‘Great Ape’ family, and also includes three other types of primate: orangutans , chimpanzees , and humans. There are two species of gorilla: the Eastern Gorilla, and the Western Gorilla. The Eastern Gorilla is rated Endangered, and fewer than 6,000 survive in the wild. The Western Gorilla, despite having a larger estimated population of around 95,000, is rated Critically Endangered. This is because its population is declining faster than that of the Eastern Gorilla. Gorillas live in the mountain and lowland forests of Central Africa. They live in small groups, led by a male gorilla known as a ‘Silverback’. The other members of the troop are females and young gorillas.

Larger troops may also contain one or more adult males, known as ‘Blackbacks’. Silverback gorillas protect their troops against threats from other gorillas, and potential predators such as leopards. Male gorillas are large, powerful animals, and can grow to be 1.8 m (almost 6 feet) tall, and weigh up to 180 kg (400 lbs). Females are significantly smaller. Despite their fearsome appearance, gorillas are generally non-aggressive, and very rarely attack humans. Gorillas are herbivores (plant eaters), and eat a variety of fruit, shoots, and leaves. Gorillas make nests out of branches and vegetation. These intelligent animals have also been observed using branches and other objects as simple tools. Let’s learn more about these gentle giants … Awesome Gorilla Facts For Kids A Gorilla is a fearsome, but beautiful, creature Where can you find gorillas in the wild? Gorillas live in Africa. Many of them live in the forests and swamps, some live in the mountains. What is a Silverback gorilla? Silverbacks are the largest gorillas. They are the male leaders of mountain-dwelling gorillas.

They decide where the group will go, when they will eat, and where they will sleep. The Silverbacks also protect the group from predators (animals that naturally prey on other animals). How big do gorillas get? Adult male gorillas weigh between 135 – 180 kg (300 – 400 lbs). Silverback gorillas can weigh 600 pounds or more. Silverbacks are the male leaders of a group, or troop of gorillas. Female gorillas weigh quite a bit less than males. The average female gorilla weighs 68 – 113 kg (150 – 200 lbs). Male gorillas are usually between 1.7 and 1.8 meters (5.6 – 5.9 ft), females are slightly smaller. Silverback gorillas can be 6 feet tall or more. What do gorillas eat? Gorillas eat mainly plants. They eat seeds, leaves, and stems. A small portion of their diet ( the kind of food a person, animal or community usually eats) is made up of termites and caterpillars. Gorillas mainly eat plants What color are gorillas?

Western subspecies ( a group of related animals that is smaller than a species) are brownish gray. Eastern and mountain subspecies have black fur. Silverback gorillas are black with silver hair down their backs. How long do gorillas live? Gorillas usually live to be 35 – 40 years old. The oldest gorilla ever recorded lived in a zoo and was 55 years old. Do gorillas live alone or in groups? Gorillas live in groups made up of a Silverback male, who is the leader, and several female gorillas and their offspring. Some males decide to leave the group and live alone. Are gorilla families like human families? Gorilla families tend to stick together. Gorillas laugh, play and even cry. They interact much like human families do. Young gorillas play together, usually biting and wrestling. Mothers feed and groom their offspring. Babies often ride on their Mother’s backs. Young gorillas spend a lot of time with their fathers. Fathers protect their young, and even let them sleep in their nests. Researchers have seen Fathers playing with their offspring, just like human fathers do. Overall, gorillas are gentle and shy.

How do gorillas communicate with each other? Since gorillas live in areas with lots of vegetation (a group of plants), vocal communication is important. Gorillas start out communicating with their mothers when they are young. Babies grunt, scream, and cry out to get their mother’s attention. This helps mothers keep track of where their babies are, as well as let them know what their needs are. Adults vocalize as many as eight times an hour. These noises range from quiet grunts to screaming. Sometimes gorillas communicate by the way they stand, or by their facial expressions, just like people do. A young gorilla in the branches of a tree. What predators do gorillas have? Gorillas have only one natural predator, the leopard. Occasionally, gorillas will fight, sometimes resulting in the death of another gorilla. Why are gorillas becoming extinct? Gorillas are becoming extinct for a variety of reasons. One is the fact that farming, and land development has destroyed their habitat. When forests are cleared, the rich vegetation that makes up a gorilla’s diet disappears. Poaching (hunting animals illegally) is another cause of a decrease in the number of gorillas.

Poachers shoot entire groups of gorillas to steal the babies so they can sell them to zoos. People use the fur for clothing, purses, and other things. Poachers even cut off gorilla’s hands for trophies. Because of these things, there are not enough baby gorillas being born to keep the population growing. How can we help the gorillas? Just learning about these gentle giants is a start. When people see the importance of gorillas and how amazing these creatures really are, things will change. There are lots of groups around the world who are working to protect the gorillas. We need to stop poachers from shooting gorillas, and we need to stop buying items made from gorilla fur. Their future is up to us. Gorillas are critically endangered. This means that they could go extinct in our lifetimes. Tell all of your friends about this, and ask your parents to support charities such as The Gorilla Organization . YOU can help to save this magnificent animal. Fun Facts About Gorillas: Silverback Gorilla | Mountain Gorilla Silverback Gorilla The Scoop The Rarest Gorilla Silverback gorillas live high in the mountains in two protected parks in Africa. They are also referred to as mountain gorillas.

Silverback gorillas continually wander through their home ranges of 10 to 15 square miles, feeding and resting throughout the day. Because gorillas are nomadic, they build new nests each day at dusk, constructing them out of bent branches in a tree or of grasses on the ground. Silverback gorillas have long black hair and their thick, shaggy coats help to keep them warm in cold climates. Adult male mountain gorillas are called Silverbacks because of the silver saddle of hair on their backs. Mountain gorillas have a stocky build, with a broad chest, long, muscular arms and wide feet and hands. Their arms are longer than their legs. Gorillas live in groups. Each gorilla family has a silverback as leader who scares away other animals by standing erect on its hind legs, tearing up and throwing plants, drumming on the chest with its hands or fists, stamping its feet, striking the ground with its palms and galloping in a mock attack on all fours!

The Facts Genus/Species: Gorilla gorilla beringei Location: Africa, on the borders of Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo Silverback Gorillas are around six feet tall - about the height of an adult male - while females are around five feet tall. Silverback gorillas weigh approximately 350 pounds- about twice the weight of normal adult man. Gorillas are herbivores, and eat only plants. They spend most of their day foraging for food and eating bamboo and leafy plants Silverback gorillas were not even known to exist until 1902.Today, their habitat is being destroyed when people use the land for farming and the trees for fuel. Gorillas are also killed by poachers and sometimes get caught in poacher’s snares meant for other animals. The Silverback Gorilla is the most endangered species of Gorilla. Did You Know? The silverback gorilla will protect the group to the extent of sacrificing his own life. Adult gorillas can eat up to 30 kilograms of food each day. Silverback gorillas are very intelligent animals. They are known for their use of tools and their varied communication.

Some gorillas in captivity at a zoo have been taught to use sign language. Silverback gorillas are close relatives to humans, sharing around 98% of the same DNA. Gorilla Facts - Animal Facts Encyclopedia Animal Facts Encyclopedia gorilla Facts Portrait of a Gorilla With adult males weighing up to 600 pounds and standing six feet tall, the gorilla is the largest of the great apes, and the largest living primate. They live in the jungles and rain forests of Central Africa and the two species and five subspecies of gorilla are all named for the regions and habitats that they call home. All gorilla subspecies are critically endangered, and even with increasing conservation efforts, the likelihood of maintaining a population in the wild for some of these creatures is very slim. The gorilla is a terrestrial animal which only spends time in trees during its youth, and while sleeping in a nest at night. Many large males sleep on the ground and never enter the trees after they reach a certain size. Gorillas are true knuckle-walkers, and spend the most time of all the great apes walking on all fours.

The gorilla is tremendously powerful and uses its strength to rip open tree trunks to retain the softer insides. They are probably exclusively herbivores who eat fruit, leaves, shoots, bulbs, roots and tree bark of nearly 100 different plant species. Only occasionally will gorillas eat insects, like ants and termites. Gorillas have never been observed hunting, or eating any small game in the wild, but DNA testing of their feces suggests they may eat occasional small creatures - perhaps even monkeys. With the largest males well over 500 pounds, the gorilla must spend many hours a day foraging and consuming about 50 pounds of vegetation. Their rotund bellies, which expand well out past the girth of the chest, are like large cauldrons that break down starchy foodstuffs like a furnace. The gorilla has huge, flat molars in the rear of the jaw that grind down difficult foods. They have not only opposable thumbs, but, like all the great apes except for human beings, opposable big toes as well. They can hold and manipulate things with their feet almost as easily as with their hands.

Gorillas are complex thinkers and tool builders, and most interestingly for their mass, and fierce appearance, are rather gentle and peaceful in their lifestyle, with little violence, free-forming family units, and long, rich childhoods spent learning from their elders.. - Gorilla Facts western gorilla The Western Lowland gorilla is the most populous and most recognizable of the gorillas. Because it lives in lower valleys and ranges closer to populations, it has been studied far more than the other species, and unfortunately, captured more often as well. Only a handful of Eastern gorillas (about 20) exist in captivity, and there are no known captive mountain gorillas, so the Western is the gorilla you will see in zoos and exhibits. The Western lowland gorilla is smaller than the Eastern gorilla, but is still gigantic. Adult males are just a few inches shy of six feet tall when standing upright, and can weigh about 475 pounds. Females, as in all the gorilla species, are about half the weight of males, and 60 to 75% the height. Western gorillas have more of a brownish tone to their fur, especially on the shoulders and head.

These gorillas spend the majority of their time on the ground, but build a nest every night, usually in the trees. The nest building begins about a half hour before sunset, and involves bending branches and weaving them together to form a platform. This behavior is, in effect, tool making. It involves the careful selection of branches and twigs, using larger diameters for the base, and smaller twigs for the sides. The gorilla bends, but does not break certain parts of the bed, enabling it to manipulate the branches but still maintain some integrity. The gorilla will only sleep in the bed for one night, and only mothers with young will share. In the morning the nest is abandoned, and conservationists have become accustomed to counting the number of abandoned gorilla beds they find, to determine the local population. - Gorilla Facts eastern gorilla mountain gorillas lounging Eastern lowland The Eastern lowland gorilla is the largest of the gorillas, with the biggest adult males being six feet tall when standing upright. Some of the largest on record were close to 600 pounds.

Once thought to be just a myth, the more exotic looking Eastern mountain gorilla was only discovered in 1902, They live in high elevations and are covered with very dense, thick, black fur. They also have more rounded heads and very large round bellies. These gorillas don't have access to as much fruit as the other subspecies and consume massive amounts of leaves in their diet. In general, the amount of silver on the mature male mountain gorillas back is less extensive than that of the lowland gorilla and does not usually extend down into the thighs. The mountain gorilla, like the other subspecies, moves about in a fairly large territory, browsing only briefly in places and then moving on. They will move and stop about six times a day, from one feeding area to another, and may not revisit that area for weeks after. Some of this movement has to do with the seasonal availability of food, but some may be just an instinctual drive that prevents them from depleting any one area or food source.

This is not a natural tendency for all animals, and some very intelligent animals like the elephant, often over indulge and destroy their own environment, but the big and ever eating gorilla, is also ever moving, and so protects its own resources in the process.- Gorilla Facts This Form cannot be submitted until the missing fields (labelled below in red) have been filled in Vote Here for Your Favorite Animal! Pick Your Fav! lowland gorilla with baby onboard mountain gorilla mother with infant Female gorillas are fertile for two to three days per month, but will engage in sexual activity not only out of their estrus cycle, but also while pregnant and lactating. Like the orangutan, bonobo, and human, gorillas appear to enjoy sexual relations for pleasure, and not just for reproduction. Gorillas are nowhere near as sexually active as some other great apes, and have not been observed having face-to-face intercourse, but among bachelor males there are rare occasions of mild homosexual activity. Pregnancy lasts for 8 1/2 months and results in one infant, very rarely two. A newborn gorilla is born eyes open and well-furred. It is quite helpless but for its instinct to grasp with all four feet.

The tiny baby will be held close to its mothers chest for the first few weeks of life and then graduates to riding on her back. Baby gorillas are basically raised by their mother, but all adults within the troop, including adult males, will interact with youngsters. Mutual grooming involves all members, and babies may hitch a ride on other adolescents or adults as long as mom is amenable. By four months old the young gorilla can walk and climb on its own, but its range is generally only a few yards from its mothers side. The gorilla has a very long childhood. nursing until it is three and even four years old, and sleeping in the same nest with its mother until about five. It may build its own nest but still sleep with mom for the first few months of this critical transition, and some youngsters will climb back in bed with their mother if she gives birth to a new infant, in a familiar attempt to cling to childhood. Both male and female young adults are likely to leave their family troop and form or join a new troop at about eight years old. Groups of young males, called "bachelors", may stay in troops of up to ten individuals.

They wait for an opportunity to pair up with a young female who is ready to leave her mothers troop. Gorilla troops, including groups of bachelor males, have overlapping territories and not only rarely fight, but will occasionally socialize when they come upon each other. Because troops are made up of many unrelated individuals in order to preserve genetic diversity, neighboring troops are likely to be made up of relatives, and individuals may visit with their parents or childhood friends. The long childhood of the gorilla is filled with learning experiences and opportunities for the transmission of culture to the next generation. Young gorillas are taught by example, and adults other than the mother are often willing to demonstrate different techniques for food gathering, nest building, or any number of other activities. These skills can be seen being passed along to youngsters within a new troop who may get several different examples of how to do something, from adults who grew up in different troops. - Amazing Gorilla Facts The incredible silverback Male and female gorillas are born about the same size, but females reach full growth at about eight years old.

Young males just get bigger and bigger until they fill out completely at about fifteen years old.When he is done growing he will be about twice the weight of an adult female, and about 30 percent taller than her. He also has very large ridges on his skull that form the big conehead look, and serve to anchor his huge jaw muscles. Females have these ridges as well, but they are much less pronounced As the young male starts to mature, he will also begin to develop a blanket of silver hair across his shoulders. Before the color develops he is called a blackback. At eight or nine years old he will break out in a bit of salt and pepper between the shoulder blades. At ten or twelve, when his full mantle is grey, he is known as a silverback. By the time he is in his twenties, the silver color will reach all the way down the thighs and sometimes across the belly. The male also develops large canine teeth as he matures, which are used more for show than anything else. It is on a rare occasion however, that two males will have a serious altercation, and death has occurred, usually due to damage inflicted by the impressive fangs.

- Gorilla Facts gorilla intelligence the thinker Gorillas live in a complex society where young adults leave their family troops to find or create their own social units. They spread their knowledge and culture this way, and insights into best foods, ripest fruits, smartest techniques for extracting pulp from trees or nuts from their shells, are handed down and demonstrated to one another. Gorillas in captivity have been taught all manor of tasks and tricks, from ridiculous circus stunts, to experiments as fascinating as using sign language or computer touch screens to communicate. The most compelling argument for just how profoundly bright the gorilla may be is Koko, a female lowland gorilla who was born in captivity in 1971, and has been the main focus of the Gorilla language project. Koko has been learning American sign language since she was a year old and knows over 1000 signs. She understands nearly 2000 words of English and has a tested I.Q. on the human I.Q.

scale of between 75 and 95!- Gorilla Facts a few more gorilla facts A group of gorillas is called a "troop" The gorilla is the largest of the great apes Adult male gorillas are called "silverbacks" for the silver hair that grows on their backs Western silverbacks have silver hair down their sides and thighs, Eastern silverbacks have a defined patch of silver between the shoulders. Adult male gorillas are usually two times the size of adult females. All gorilla species are critically endangered. The mountain gorilla was not known to exist until 1902 Gorillas are almost entirely vegetarian only occasionally eating small insects .- Gorilla Facts! Scientific Classification: Gorilla | San Diego Zoo Animals & Plants San Diego Zoo Animals & Plants GENUS: Gorilla SPECIES: gorilla (western gorilla), beringei (eastern gorilla) SUBSPECIES: Gorilla gorilla gorilla (western lowland gorilla), Gorilla beringei beringei (mountain gorilla), Gorilla beringei graueri (Grauer's gorilla), Gorilla beringei (Bwindi gorilla) ABOUT Gentle giants.

Ever since King Kong first gave Fay Wray that unexpected lift to the top of the Empire State Building in 1933, Hollywood has gone ape depicting the gorilla as perfect monster material. They seem to be forever typecast as the heavy. But the truth is, they’re peaceful, family oriented, plant-eating animals that live in complex social groups. They are the largest of all primates—the group of animals that includes monkeys, lemurs, orangutans, chimpanzees, and humans. Many people like to compare gorillas with humans, but there are several differences. Although they are able to stand upright, gorillas prefer to walk using their hands as well as their legs. Their arms are much longer than their legs, and gorillas can use the backs of their fingers like extra feet when they walk. This is called the knuckle walk. Like all great apes (except humans), gorillas require rain forests to make their living, and the forest depends upon them, too. The gorilla’s fibrous scat acts as rich fertilizer for the forest, and seedlings sprout from it rapidly, making these animals important forest regenerators.

HABITAT AND DIET An adult male eats up to 40 pounds (18 kilograms) of food each day. Strong jaws and impressive teeth help the gorilla chew tough stems. Can you imagine waking up each morning surrounded by food? Almost everything a gorilla eats is plant material, so life in the forest is like living in a huge restaurant! And gorillas love to eat—it’s their favorite activity! An adult male eats up to 40 pounds (18 kilograms) of food each day. A gorilla’s large stomach can hold the bulky food it eats. Strong jaws help the gorilla chew tough stems. The big toe of a gorilla’s foot is opposable, like our thumb, to help it grab food or climb trees. Gorilla food includes leaves, stems, fruits, seeds, roots, ants, and termites. Unlike chimpanzees, gorillas don’t use tools to get those termites; instead, they just smash the termite mound to get the tasty insects living inside! At the San DIego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park, our gorillas are fed a variety of produce and browse material six times a day, as well as special treats like Cheerios and Wheat Chex cereals.

This food is scattered all about the exhibit, giving the gorillas plenty of opportunities to hunt for their meals. SaveSave FAMILY LIFE Male gorillas between 8 and 12 years old are called “blackbacks,” as they won’t become silverbacks until they are 12 to 15 years old. A group of gorillas living together is called a “troop.” There can be 5 to 30 gorillas in one troop, led by a strong, experienced male known as a "silverback." His job is a big one. He is responsible for the safety and well being of the members of his troop. The silverback makes all the decisions, such as where the troop travels for food each day, when they stop to eat or rest, and where they spend the night. A gorilla troop doesn’t stay in the same place for more than a day. After all, the troop doesn’t want to deplete its food source! Each morning the silverback leads his troop to a new area where food is plentiful. After a morning of munching, each adult gorilla gathers leaves, twigs, and branches to make a day nest for resting while the youngsters play.

After their nap, the gorillas eat again until bedtime, when they make yet another nest, either on the ground or in a tree, for a good night’s sleep. Gorillas never use the same nest twice. Gorillas are generally peaceful creatures, but sometimes a younger male from another troop challenges the silverback. To scare unwanted gorillas away, he beats his chest with cupped hands to make a loud noise, screams, bares his teeth, and then charges forward. Sometimes he breaks off branches and shakes them at the intruder. It is an awesome display! A three-week-old Western lowland gorilla observes his surroundings as he is held by his mother, Jessica. A female gorilla is ready to have babies of her own when she is about eight years old. But first, she must leave the safety of her own troop and find another troop or a lone silverback to live with. The tiny infants only weigh a few pounds at birth, and the mother is generally over 200 pounds (91 kilograms), so the births are quick and easy.

A mother carries her baby against her chest for the first several months until the little one can hang on to Mom’s back, which frees up her hands to walk and carry food items. Young Frank demonstrates how a baby gorilla can cling to the long hairs on its mom for a ride, leaving the mother’s hands free for walking. A newborn grows quickly. At five to six months old it learns to walk, and by 18 months of age it can follow Mom on foot for short distances. Still, the safest place for the youngster is its mother's back as she travels through the dense vegetation of their forest home. Young gorillas learn by imitating what the others in the troop are doing and by play fighting with other youngsters. Even the stern silverbacks are gentle with the little ones as they practice new skills. A young gorilla stays close to its mom, sharing her nest, until it is four to six years old. Gorillas have been known to nurse for up to three years. SaveSave AT THE ZOO Gorillas have long been popular at the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park.

A 1936 issue of our member magazine, ZOONOOZ, stated, “More people ask for the gorillas than for any single exhibit, even more than inquire about the penguins.” Maka at the San Diego Zoo Gorillas at the Zoo: The Zoo’s first gorillas arrived here as youngsters in 1931, captured in the mountains of what was then the Belgian Congo in Africa in 1930 by famed explorers Martin and Osa Johnson and paid for by a generous donation from early Zoo benefactors Ellen B. Scripps and her nephew, Robert P. Scripps. The young gorillas were about five or six years old and it was hoped that one was male and the other female. As it turned out, they were both male, but no matter! The awesome apes enchanted Zoo visitors, and the two served as wonderful ambassadors for their species. They are immortalized in two bronze busts on the Zoo's front plaza. Albert, the Western lowland gorilla silverback, circa 1970. Another famous gorilla resident at the Zoo was Albert. Born in Africa, Albert arrived at the Zoo in August 1949 at about four months of age.

He and two baby female lowland gorillas were hand raised at the Zoo hospital. In 1965, he fathered Alvila, the first lowland gorilla conceived and born at the San Diego Zoo, and only the seventh gorilla born in managed care. During his years here, Albert endeared himself to an international audience through his majestic stature, mischievous behavior, and gentle demeanor. His spirit continues through his great-grandchildren living at the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park and the ambiance of his namesake restaurant, Albert’s, a full-service restaurant located on the spot of our former open-air gorilla grotto, where Albert lived. Today, the Zoo has a wonderful, naturalistic gorilla habitat that is home to seven gorillas, divided into smaller groups, that alternate days on and off exhibit: while one group is outside being admired by Zoo visitors, the others spends the “off” day indoors in the spacious gorilla “bedrooms.” Memba is the only wild-born gorilla at the Zoo. He arrived at the Zoo in 1984 when he was about 15 years old and has fathered seven offspring.

His sons Ekuba, Mandazzi, and Maka are here as well. Now an adult, Maka has a genetic defect that has made him smaller than other male gorillas his age. You can usually see Memba, Ekuba, and Mandazzi, or Maka and his two brothers first thing in the morning. Paul Donn, born at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in 1989, heads the Zoo’s other troop. He has fathered three offspring. Members of Paul Donn’s troop are females Ndjia and Jessica. His group can usually be seen in the afternoon. Mother and child relax in the shade at the Safari Park. A young gorilla stays close to its mom, sharing her nest, until it is four to six years old. Gorillas at the Safari Park: The San Diego Zoo Safari Park opened to the public in 1972 with gorilla silverback Trib and his mate, Dolly. They produced the first gorilla born at the Park when little Jim arrived in 1973. Dolly lost interest in caring for her infant, so he was transferred to the Animal Care Center to be hand raised.

Over the years, the Park’s troop has grown and is now led by silverback Winston. He watches over females Vila, Kamilah, Kokamo, Kokamo’s son Monroe (the 16th gorilla born at the Park, in 2011), and Kokamo's new baby girl named Leslie, born October 19, 2016. Other members of Winston’s troop are Imani and Frank, who moved to the Park from the Zoo in January 2013; and Imani's daughter Joanne, born at the Park in 2014. Frank has a special story: born at the Zoo in September 2008, his mother, Azizi, a hand-raised, first-time mom, was not able to hold Frank correctly to nurse him, so keepers had to intervene. Rather than removing Frank from his troop to raise him in the nursery, the committed keepers devised a “rear assisting” program that allowed Azizi (and his aunt, Imani) to raise Frank while keepers helped out by feeding him and quickly returning him to his family.

This strategy was wildly successful, as Frank is now a rotund, confident young gorilla, adored by his family and fans. He has a great time playing with Monroe! Vila is our oldest gorilla. She turned 59 in October 2016! Born in Africa in 1957 and hand raised at the San Diego Zoo’s Children’s Zoo, she gave birth in 1965 to the first gorilla born at the Zoo: Alvila. Vila was moved to the Safari Park in 1975 and quickly endeared herself to visitors and staff. Vila is one of the three oldest known gorillas living today. Although she is “up there” in age, Vila is in excellent health, has a good appetite, and normal behavior. She does have some age-related issues, so she receives senior vitamins and medicine for arthritis, which works well: she has no trouble getting around. Living in Southern California helps as well, as the temperate climate is very easy on an aging gorilla. Even though she is missing a few teeth, corn on the cob is one of her favorite foods, and she never misses a kernel!

Another gorilla with a remarkable story is Joanne, born via emergency C-section on March 12, 2014. She had to remain at the Park’s veterinary medical center for several days, due to health issues. When she was well, the infant was successfully introduced to her mother, Imani, and the rest of the gorilla troop. They can all be seen daily in the Safari Park’s gorilla habitat! SaveSave CONSERVATION Gorillas have no natural enemies or predators, yet these peaceful creatures are at critical risk because of humans. People hunt gorillas for food called bushmeat, and logging and mining companies destroy gorilla habitat. The recent armed conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has caused refugees to pour into previous gorilla habitat. Disease epidemics such as the Ebola virus have recently decimated gorilla populations that were previously considered secure within their natural habitat. The past 15 years have seen a dramatic decline in gorilla population size, with almost half of the entire eastern gorilla population suspected to have been wiped out. Illegal hunting has become a lucrative activity in the region. While hunters often lay snares targeting other mammals, sadly, many gorillas die or lose limbs after being accidentally ensnared.

An illegal pet trade is also on the rise. Behind each infant gorilla caught by poachers, several family members are often killed. In 2000, San Diego Zoo Global established a long-term field program in Cameroon, which is now part of our Central Africa Program, focusing on the behavior and habitat use of gorillas and other primate species in the mountainous southwestern Cameroon rain forest. It isn’t clear whether gorillas in the area’s Ebo Forest are western lowland gorillas Gorilla gorilla gorilla or Cross River gorillas Gorilla gorilla diehli—or something else. In 2005, we received permission to establish permanent study sites inside the Ebo Forest, where surveys gathering ecological and behavioral data for various species, including gorillas, are collected daily. In 2012, the Central Africa Program has established Clubs des Amis des Gorilles (Gorilla Guardian Clubs) in the villages closest to the gorillas to promote community-led conservation initiatives and to promote pride in the unique Ebo gorillas. The critical conservation status of gorillas underscores the urgency for gorilla conservation science.

In collaboration with wildlife managers and conservation scientists in countries where gorilla populations survive, San Diego Zoo Global is involved in the training of range-country scientists in the application of genetic tools and field methods in assessing and monitoring surviving gorilla populations. Performing the first genetic studies on populations of wild mountain gorillas, it was discovered that regionally, these animals are genetically distinct. Genetic differences were also found within western lowland gorilla populations, which had been considered a single subspecies. By gathering and analyzing fecal samples from wild gorillas, researchers from San Diego Zoo Global and wildlife authorities and conservationists in Uganda, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Cameroon can shed light on the genetic variation across regions. Africa may seem far away, but there are some things you can do to help! When you buy wood or furniture, ask if the wood has been certified. This means the wood was taken in a way approved by forestry experts. Buying certified wood encourages logging companies in Africa to follow wildlife laws that help protect gorillas and other African animals. Did you know that cellphones have a connection to the well-being of gorillas and other animals in central Africa?

Here's the 411: cellphones contain a rare ore called coltan (short for columbite-tantalite). This metal is found in central Africa, and increased mining operations to get the coltan means habitat loss and increased hunting pressure on gorillas and other wildlife. Surprisingly, wildlife reserves suffer most from mining. With the increased popularity of cellphones, thousands of illegal miners have invaded the protected parks. Needing food, they have hunted gorillas and elephants to near extinction in these areas. San Diego Zoo Global, along with Eco-Cell, a cellular phone recycling company, has a cellphone-recycling program at both the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park to encourage visitors to recycle. Our cellphone recycling program helps to keep those obsolete cellphones, chargers, and old batteries out of landfills and to reduce a little of the coltan demand at the same time. We have cellphone collection boxes at our two facilities, so it's really easy to simply drop off those old phones and accessories, working or not. There is no recycling fee to drop off your phone. All cellphones and accessories collected are reused or properly recycled. Every little bit helps!

You can help us bring species back from the brink by supporting the San Diego Zoo Global Wildlife Conservancy . Together we can save and protect wildlife around the globe. Sounds Gorilla Facts for Kids | Silverback Gorilla | DK Find Out Gorillas Toggle text Gorillas are the largest of all the great apes. They may look fierce, but they are shy and peaceful unless they feel threatened. These apes spend most of their time on the ground and feed mainly on plant stems, leaves, and berries. They walk on all fours with their hands curled over so that their knuckles touch the ground. Gorillas live in small groups, or troops, of up to 20 individuals. Each troop contains several females and their young, led by a dominant adult male. The male defends the troop, roaring and beating his chest with his fists to scare off intruders. If this does not work, he may charge and knock over or bite the attacker. Eastern gorillas can weigh 485lb (220kg), more than three times the weight of an average adult man. Facial skin Facial skin Like chimpanzees, gorillas can make a wide range of facial expressions to show what mood they are in.

The hairless skin on the face allows these expressions to be easily seen by other gorillas. Silverback Silverback A fully-grown male gorilla can be identified by the silvery fur on his back. This is why adult males are known as silverbacks. Opposable toe Opposable toe A gorilla’s foot has five toes, including an opposable, or grasping, toe. This toe helps the gorilla grip objects with its foot, in the same way that a human hand uses the thumb to hold on to things. Western gorilla The western gorilla is the smaller of the two species of gorillas. It lives in the dense tropical forests of western Central Africa. This gorilla is active during the day, spending most of its time looking for food. At night it bends the twigs and branches of trees to make a sleeping nest. Play Mountain Gorilla facts Predators: Leopards, crocodiles, humans Few animals have sparked the imagination of man as much as the gorilla, the largest of the living primates and the last member of the ape family known to science.

Most gorillas live in inaccessible regions in various dense forests in tropical Africa, and only in the last 30 years have scientists learned details of their life in the wild. A chain of eight volcanoes known as the Virunga Volcanoes runs through a western section of the Rift Valley, forming part of the border between Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire) and Rwanda. These spectacular mountains and the nearby Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda are the last refuges of the most endangered of the gorilla subspecies, the mountain gorilla. Only about 630 of these individuals remain. Physical Characteristics The gorilla is massive, with a short, thick trunk and broad chest and shoulders. Its eyes and ears are dwarfed by its large head and hairless, shiny black muzzle. Older males develop a crown of muscle and hair that makes the head look even longer. The arms are longer than the stubby legs. The fully adult male mountain gorilla is twice as large as the female. Habitat The most serious threat to gorillas is habitat loss. The rich volcanic soil of the Virungas is as highly valued as farming land.

In Rwanda, Uganda and Congo, a regional conservation program stressing the importance of maintaining the virgin forest watershed and the need to habituate some groups of gorillas for tourist visits has helped ease encroachment. Behavior The gorilla is shy and retiring rather than ferocious and treacherous. It usually seeks no trouble unless harassed but will valiantly defend its family group if threatened. Family groups are close-knit and may have up to 30 members, but even if smaller, the group usually consists of at least one older male, one or more females and a few juveniles. Gorillas have strong attachments to members of their own group and even when groups meet and mingle and then subsequently part, each animal tends to remain with its respective unit. An adult male called a silverback named for the silvery gray hairs on its back normally leads each group, serving as its chief protector and defender. Gorillas continually wander through their home ranges of 10 to 15 square miles, feeding and resting throughout the day. Because gorillas are nomadic, they build new nests each day at dusk, constructing them of bent branches in a tree or of grasses on the ground.

A group's hierarchy, ritualized behavior and bluff charges between males prevents conflict among and between groups. Gorillas scream, grab foliage and stuff it in their mouths, stand erect on their hind legs, tear up and throw plants, drum on the chest with hands or fists, stamp their feet, strike the ground with the palms of their hands and gallop in a mock attack on all fours. Diet Animals of this size need a lot of food, and the vegetarian gorilla is no exception. Although they eat a variety of plants, favorites include wild celery, bamboo, thistles, stinging nettles, bedstraw and certain fruit. These plants seem to provide sufficient moisture so that gorillas do not need water. Caring for the Young Mountain gorillas have a slow rate of reproduction. Females give birth for the first time at about age 10 and will have more offspring every three or four years. A male begins to breed between 12 and 15 years, when he is in charge of his own group. Able to conceive for only about three days each month, the female produces a single young. Newborn gorillas are weak and tiny, weighing in at about 4 pounds.

Their movements are as awkward as those of human infants, but their development is roughly twice as fast. At 3 or 4 months, the gorilla infant can sit upright and can stand with support soon after. It suckles regularly for about a year and is gradually weaned at about 3 1/2 years, when it becomes more independent. Predators The gorilla's only known enemies are leopards and humans. Crocodiles are potentially dangerous to lowland gorillas. In western Africa, gorillas are commonly hunted for meat or in retaliation for crop raiding, but in eastern Africa they have been the victims of snares and traps set for antelope and other animals. Poachers have also destroyed entire family groups in their attempts to capture infant gorillas for zoos, while others are killed to sell their heads and hands as trophies. Did you know? Gorillas rarely attack humans. But in an encounter a person should stay still and refrain from staring or pointing at the gorilla. Gorillas are susceptible to various parasites and diseases, especially to pneumonia during the long, cold wet seasons. copyright: Paul Janssen What Are Silverback Gorillas?

— 5 Things To Know About Harambe’s Species - Hollywood Life 24 Photos Have you been wondering about Silverback Gorillas ever since the tragic death of Harambe at the Cincinnati Zoo? Here’s everything you need to know about the endangered species. The world is still in an uproar after Harambe , a Silverback Gorilla at the Cincinnati Zoo , was shot and killed by zoo workers on Saturday, May 25. As an endangered species, many feel strongly that other measures could have been taken to prevent losing Harambe, all the while saving the little boy, 4, who fell into his enclosure that fateful day. It seems that one good thing has come out of Harambe’s death, and that is the massive interest in his species. Therefore, here are five fast facts about the Silverback Gorilla who continues to make headlines even after being killed. 1.) Silverback Gorilla Is Just A Fancy Way Of Saying ‘Male’ While a female gorilla is known as just that, a gorilla, the males are often known as silverback gorillas because of the silver hair that grows on their backs. Usually, the hair runs down the length of their bodies to their hips.

2.) Silverback Gorilla’s Have Arm Span’s Larger Than A Human Body The adult male gorilla can range in height, from 5’6″ to 5’9″, but it’s their arm span that is most impressive. Depending on their size, a silverback gorilla’s arm span can range from 7’5″ to 8’5″ — which is nearly three feet larger than the average human length . The silverback’s can also weigh anywhere from 298 to 397lbs. Join Amazon Prime – Watch Thousands of Movies & TV Shows Anytime – Start Free Trial Now 3.) Silverback Gorillas Are Very Protective Of Their Packs It has been recorded that when a group of gorillas is attacked , one lone silverback will defend the pack until death. Oh, and gorilla groups are actually called “troops” — NOT packs. Interesting! Stream Music — Completely Unlimited & Ad-Free — Right Here 4.) Silverback Gorillas Can Live Up To 40 Years The average lifespan of a gorilla is from 35 to 40 years of age , but it has been recorded that gorillas in captivity (such as a zoo) can live up to 50 years.

One gorilla in particular is known as the oldest living gorilla in the world at age 59. So cool. 5.) All GorillaSpecies Are Endangered Sadly, the loss of Harambe was felt hard throughout the animal kingdom because his species is severely endangered of going extinct. Mountain gorillas, Western gorillas, and Eastern gorillas are all on the endangered species list as there are only a few hundred of each left. More Gorilla News: Size The gorilla is the largest of all primates. Western lowland adult male gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) are about 1.7 m (66.9 in) in body length and weigh about 169.5 kg (374 lb). Adult females are about 1.5 m (59.1 in) in body length and weigh about 71.5 kg (158 lb). The western lowland gorilla is one of the smaller subspecies. Adult male mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) may weigh up to 220 kg (484 lb) and females weigh about 97.7 kg (215 lb).

Cross River gorillas (Gorilla gorilla diehli) have been difficult to study due to their shy nature. However, it is estimated that an adult male weighs about 180 kg (396 lb). Eastern lowland gorillas (Gorilla berengei graueri) are slightly larger than the western species, with adult males weighing up to 220 kg (484 lb) and females weighing about 80 kg (176 lb). Shape Gorillas have a distinctive shape in that their stomachs are larger than their chests. Their stomach size is attributed to their enlarged intestines, which digest the bulky fibrous vegetation they consume. An adult male taking a midday rest before he resumes foraging. Arms Gorillas have larger muscles in their arms than in their legs (the opposite is true for humans). This is primarily due to the fact that they use their increased arm strength for bending and gathering foliage and for defense. Although capable of walking upright on two feet they most often walk as a quadruped (on four limbs). The gorilla's powerful arms are used for defense and bending foliage.

Gorillas' arms are much longer than their legs and their arm span is about 30 cm (1 ft) longer than that of an adult human male. The elongated arms indicate a tree-dwelling ancestry even though gorillas are now primarily terrestrial (ground-dwelling). An adult gorilla's upper body strength is six times more powerful than that of an adult human - enabling them to lift, break, and squeeze heavy objects. Coloration Gorillas have dark skin and black to brown-grey hair. Males acquire silver-gray saddles across their backs and upper thighs at sexual maturity, earning them the name silverback. This silver-gray area breaks up their overall dark coloration, creating an optical illusion of increased length and larger size. An adult male silverback at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. Lowland gorillas have shorter sparse hair whereas mountain gorillas have long and silky hair. Adult gorillas lack hair on their fingers, palms, soles, nose, lips, ears, and chest. Dentition Gorillas have 32 teeth - the same number as humans. Gorillas have large strong teeth adapted for the coarse vegetation they consume. Adult males develop big, sharp canines as they mature.

Gorillas have two full sets of teeth during their lifetime, similar to humans. The first set (similar to baby teeth) is lost and then replaced by their permanent set as adults. Head The head of a gorilla is massive, with a bulging forehead overhanging the eyes and a bony sagittal crest on top (high-domed head). The sagittal crest (especially noticeable in males) supports the large temporal muscles needed to grind coarse vegetation. The large forehead shadows the eyes of an adult male gorilla. The gorilla's high domed head helps support the large temporal muscles needed for grinding course vegetation. Gorilla and human skulls. The large bulging forehead functions primarily to protect the eyes. The inset eyes of the gorilla help protect them from environmental and defensive conditions. Hands/Feet The thumb and big toe of gorillas oppose the other digits (fingers/toes), enabling them to grasp and manipulate objects. Gorillas are able to manipulate objects with their feet as well as their hands because of their opposable big toe. Unlike human feet, gorillas have an opposable toe allowing them to grasp items with their feet.

All primates have individualized fingerprints and toeprints, which may be used for identification purposes in the field. Primates have fingernails and toenails rather than claws. They are used for opening, scraping, cleaning, and scratching. Nose Gorillas' nose regions are very distinctive in terms of the shape and wrinkles and are used by researchers to distinguish individual animals in the field. No two gorillas have identical nose-prints. Tail Gorillas, unlike monkeys, do not have tails. Glands Adult male gorillas have large apocrine (scent) glands in their armpits that produce a pungent odor when excited or stressed. Gorillas have apocrine (scent) and eccrine (sweat) glands that lubricate the palms of their hands and soles of their feet.

Question: The adult male of which animal is known as a silverback?
Answer: GORILLA