Gorillas are the largest of the primates. They are ground-dwelling and predominantly herbivorous. They inhabit the forests of central Africa. Gorillas are divided into two species and (still under debate as of 2008) either four or five subspecies. The DNA of gorillas is highly similar to that of a human, between 95 and 99% depending on what is counted,[3] and they are the next closest living relatives to humans after the two chimpanzee species.Gorillas' natural habitats cover tropical or subtropical forests in Africa. Although their range covers a small percentage of Africa, gorillas cover a wide range of elevations. The Mountain Gorilla inhabits the Albertine Rift montane cloud forests of the Virunga Volcanoes, ranging in altitude from 2,200-4,300 metres (7,200-14,100 ft). Lowland Gorillas live in dense forests and lowland swamps and marshes as low as sea level, with Western Lowland Gorillas living in Central West African countries and Eastern Lowland Gorillas living in the Democratic Republic of the Congo near its border with Rwanda.
Ten Facts about Gorilla
- Mountain gorillas inhabit the montane cloud forest of the Virunga range. Occasionally they go into the afro-alpine meadows (4,000 m) where temperatures are subfreezing at night and there is little suitable food to forage on.
- Gorillas can reach ages of 40 to 50 years.
- Reproductive rates are slow and a female may leave only 2 to 6 offspring over a 40 year life-span.
- A single, dependent young is born after a eight and a half month gestation period.
- Weaning often doesn't occur until three years of age, and juveniles may remain with mothers for years after that.
- Females are sexually mature by 10 years of age, but males are unlikely to start breeding before 15 years
- Adult males range in height 1.65-1.75 metres (5 ft 5 in-5 ft 9 in), and in weight 140-200 kg (310-440 lb). Adult females are often half the size of a silverback, averaging about 1.4 metres (4 ft 7 in) tall and 100 kg (220 lb).
- Gorillas are herbivores,[17] eating fruits, leaves, and shoots. Further, they are classified as folivores. Much like other animals that feed on plants and shoots, they sometimes ingest small insects as well.
- Gorillas are closely related to humans and are considered highly intelligent.
- Leopards & Humans are the only enemies of Gorilla
