Population
Decreasing
What they look like
Gorillas are the largest apes. They have a brown to black coat with mature males developing a whitish-silver saddle on their back resulting in the name ‘silverbacks’. They have longer arms than legs, brown eyes and no tail.
Animal facts
These largest living primates live in small groups led by a silverback male. Aggression is often avoided by threat displays such as chest beating. It can take up to 2-3 months for them to recognise and accept a new zookeeper. Gorillas often only glance at each other. Staring can be rude in gorilla company.
What they eat
Fruits, leaves, seeds and stems. Our gorillas eat 5kg of food every day.
Habitat
Lowland tropical forest.
Where they live
Cameroon, Central African Republic, Gabon, Congo and Equatorial Guinea.
Threats
Deforestation for farming and timber and poaching for the bushmeat trade and souvenir trophies.
Order
Primates
Family
Pongidae
