Gorillas are the largest of the great apes and one of the closest relatives of man – after Baboons and chimpanzees. They share almost 98% of their genes with humans and this is displayed through the behaviors and emotions common with humans such as sadness and laughter. Wild Gorillas are only found in some of Africa’s tropical forests, wetlands, marshes, highlands and mountains particularly in Uganda’s Bwindi impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National park, Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and so many other national parks in D.R. Congo. They are powerful primates with muscular arms, thick chests, large nostrils and black/brownish hair. Hair covers the entire body except for the face, hands, feet and chest (for old silverbacks).
Gorillas walk with all four legs most of the time but can stand erect especially when feeding on tree barks or displaying dominance. Adult male gorillas are called silverbacks because of the silver/gray hair on their back. Silverbacks are larger than the females and can weigh between 135 to 220 kilograms in the wild. Those in captivity may grow fatter and heavier because of less exercise or space in which to exercise. Because of their weight, adult gorillas avoid climbing trees as much as they can. It is the young that climb and sleep on short tree branches most of the time.
They stay in groups led by a dominant silverback though there are cases where a group may be led by two related silverbacks but this is not common in some gorilla subspecies. A gorilla group or family can contain between 4 to 30 individuals who can live up to 35 years in the wild and 45 in captivity. The group may include younger males, juveniles, females and their babies. The stability of a gorilla group depends entirely on the bond between the females and the dominant silverback. Gorillas are calmer, more peaceful, persistent and wiser.
Types of Gorillas
There are divided into two species– the Eastern gorilla and the Western gorillas. The Western gorillas are the most abundant specie. Their nose structure is different and they have a lighter color than the Eastern gorilla. Western gorillas are further divided into two subspecies – the Cross River and the Western lowland gorilla.
The Eastern Gorilla also have two subspecies – the mountain gorillas and the Eastern lowland gorilla. The Eastern lowland gorilla is now known as the Grauer’s gorilla. These are the largest of all the subspecies and are only found in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. They have a short muzzle, large hands and a stout body.
Western Lowland Gorillas
They live in the lowland forests of central and West Africa. They are the smallest but have the largest numbers of all the four gorilla sub-species. It is estimated that over 350,000 remain in the wild. They are the ones that you normally see in the zoos. They differ from the other species because of their greyish fur.
Though they have the largest numbers, their overall population is believed to have declined by 60% in the last 25 years. This is due to the humans who infect them with diseases like the Ebola Virus which killed almost 30% of the total population. You can see them in zoos worldwide or in one of the national parks in west/Central Africa.
Cross River Gorillas
Cross River gorillas are found in the forested mountains and highlands of Cameroon and Nigeria. They live in the most northern/western part of Africa. They weigh about 440 pounds and about 5 feet long. They are small in number with less than 350 remaining in the wild. Cross River gorillas are particularly vulnerable to extinction because they occupy a small stretch of land and come into more contact with humans. Because of their frequent contacts with humans, they are more aggressive and difficult to study and therefore habituate.
Governments of Cameroon and Nigeria have set up measures to prevent their extinction. Local communities close to gorilla habitats have also been sensitized about the importance of the primates to the ecosystem. Gorilla trekking is not possible with Cross River gorillas and you cannot see then in zoos.
Eastern Lowland Gorillas (Grauer’s)
Eastern lowland gorillas are found in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. They are found in Kahuzi-Biega National Park, Odzala-Kokoua National Park, Maiko National Park and areas around the Itombwe Massif.
They are the largest of all the gorilla subspecies. It has a thick body, a short muzzle and larger hands. Like Mountain gorillas, they have black coats but with shorter hair on the head and body. They are the third most critically endangered species of all three gorilla sub-species and therefore you are likely to meet habituated families. They are threatened by poaching and destruction of their habitats. Their habitats have reduced from 81,000 square miles to only 5,600 square miles in the past 20 years. About 7,500 Eastern lowland gorillas remain in the wild.
Mountain Gorillas
Mountain gorillas are only found in the Virunga Mountain regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Uganda. They weigh less compared to the Eastern lowland gorillas and generally live in the forests at higher altitudes (8,000 to 12,000 feet) and on mountain slopes. Mountain gorillas have thick and long fur. The thick fur protects them from the cold temperatures. They can only be seen in the wilds or at the Senkwekwe Gorilla Orphanage in Congo.
According to the 2018 census results about 1,000 remain in the wild. Mountain Gorillas are also threatened by habitat loss as a result of continues human encroachment on forests and mountain slopes. Some are forced to migrate higher up the cold mountain slopes which could threaten their health. They are the second endangered gorilla species.
Mountain gorillas can be trekked during dry seasons since they stay in mountains and these get slippery during wet seasons, the other species can be trekked during any time of the year because they live on gentle slopes.
