What an interesting gorilla type the western gorillas are! Gorillas are large muscular primates that are known to inhabit the tropical rainforests of Africa. These large animals are herbivores and they are said to share almost 98% DNA of that of man after the chimpanzees and the bonobos.

What are the Characteristics of Western Gorillas?

Since these animals are vegetarians, they normally like eating plants and fruits but occasionally feed on insects. Like any other animal, the western lowland gorillas spend much of their time dwelling on land and at times climb trees to pick ripe fruits and make their sleeping habitats.

Additionally, these animals don’t produce many offspring. This is because a female gorilla starts producing when it is 9 or 10 years old. Meanwhile, young ones stay with their mothers until the age of  5 years. Gorillas live in well-protected groups whereby each gorilla group consists of several individuals. Every individual in the group is subordinate to a dominant silverback who is responsible for all the group affairs.

Like other animals, these endangered also communicate and they normally do it using their auditory signal, visual signals and odor. The animals are generally quiet but may sometimes show communication by screaming, beating their chests, barking and roaring. According to the scientific study, it was found that over 20 vocalizations have been heard by scientists and each seems to have a unique meaning.

What Threats affect Western Gorillas?

Like any other living thing, these animals also have their own threats. Some of them have contributed to the decline in the number of these apes. Among the threats is the destruction of their habitats. One reason for this is that central Africa is well gifted with a number of tree species that are said to have lived for over 1000 years. Others are timber exploitation, which is a major activity in this region. This has greatly led to the total destruction of their habitats.

In addition to the above, the improvement of infrastructures in the region for transporting timber. This has also led to increased transportation of gorilla meat (bush meat) to outside countries. According to reports, these gorillas have increased in number in the world market where they are taken as pets which also leads to a decrease in the number of these apes.

Furthermore, the region has been disturbed by tropical diseases such as the recent outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo is said to have claimed the lives of a third of the total population of these animals in the region and together with the above threats have led to the decline in a number of these apes making them endangered species.

Western gorillas are generally found in the Congo basin.  They generally inhabit the forests of Gabon, Central African Republic, Cameroon, Angola, Equatorial Guinea and Democratic Republic of Congo and Congo Brazzaville. These animals can also move and they can move to about one mile in a single day because of their large size but they can exceed a mile especially when the fruits are abundant.

What are the Sub-species of Gorillas?

Gorillas are divided into two major groups: the western gorillas and the Eastern gorillas. These are also subdivided into four other subspecies: the cross-river gorillas, western low land gorillas, the Eastern low land gorillas and the mountain gorillas. The western gorillas are known to inhabit the tropical forests of Africa. In East Africa, they prefer the lush forests in the Democratic Republic of Congo. There are over 125,000 gorillas living in the Democratic Republic of Congo. However, these lowland gorillas are up to date endangered because their numbers have declined. This is because of continued poaching, destruction of their habitats and diseases.

Why See the Western Gorillas With Us?

At Standard Safaris, we have a team of experts dedicated to safaris in East Africa and beyond. We specialize in all tour activities, including gorilla experiences. In the Democratic Republic of Congo we have cultivated a strong working relationship with the park authorities. This is significant in ensuring that you can secure a gorilla permit without all the hassle and other inconveniences. If you are interested in a gorilla safari combined with other activities, we can include all what you need in a customized itinerary. Contact us for this and even more unforgettable travel experiences.