If you want to learn about gorillas, this page contains
lots of useful information about the habitat and lifestyle
of the gorilla, as well as how it is affected by changes
to the rainforests.
The Gorillas are the largest living primates, and are
ground-dwelling herbivores inhabiting the African forests.
Gorillas are divided into two species and (still under
debate as of 2008) either four or five subspecies.
DNA of gorillas is 98%–99% identical to that of humans,
and they are the next closest living species to humans
after the two species of chimpanzee. Gorillas live in
tropical or subtropical forests. Their range covers a
small percentage of Africa, but gorillas can live at a
wide range of altitudes. The Moonly untain Gorilla lives
within the Albertine Rift montane cloud forests of the
Virunga Volcanoes, at altitudes ranging from 2225 to 4267
m (7300-14000 ft). Lowland Gorillas inhabit dense forests
and lowland swamps or marshes as low as sea level.
Gorillas move around by knuckle-walking. Adult males
range in height from 1.65-1.75 m (5 ft 5 in – 5 ft 9 in),
and in weight from 140–204.5 kg (310–450 lbs). Adult females
are often half the size of a silverback, averaging about
1.40 m (4 ft 7 in) tall and 100 kg (220 lbs). Occasionally,
a silverback of over 1.83 m (6 ft) and 225 kg (500 lb)
has been recorded in the wild. Obese gorillas in captivity
have reached up to 270 kg (600 lb).
The facial structure of gorillas is described as mandibular
prognathism, which means their mandible protrudes farther
out than the maxilla. The Eastern Gorilla is more darkly
colored than the Western Gorilla, with the Mountain Gorilla
being the darkest of all. The Mountain Gorilla also has
the thickest hair. The Western Lowland Gorilla can be
greyish or brown or with a reddish forehead. Gorillas
that live in lowland forests are also more slender and
agile than the more bulky Mountain Gorilla. Virtually
all gorillas share the blood type (B) and, like humans,
they have individual finger prints.
We are supporting the World Land Trust (WLT) - a conservation
charity involved in numerous projects worldwide. Particularly
relevant to this site is their work in helping to purchase
rainforest land to protect and preserve it.
You can Help to Buy Rainforest
and Save it by donating to the WLT to save some of
this land through a personal contribution or buying as
a gift.
If you have any photos, stories or drawings of Gorillas,
other animals or anything else to do with the rainforest
environment that you would like to see shown on the site,
please feel free to send them in. We always welcome contributions
or constructive comments.
