Gentle gorillas
Gorillas are the biggest primates in the world. Gorillas are heavy: an adult male can weigh more than 2 men.
Gorillas are big: when a gorilla stands up it can be as tall as a man.
Gorillas are strong: adult gorillas are much stronger than people.
Films make gorillas seem scary, but gorillas are very gentle in real life. They only use their strength when they need to.
Where do gorillas live?
Gorillas live in forests in Africa.
Gorillas live in forests in Africa.
Some gorillas live in forests high up on mountains.
Why do some gorillas have silver streaks on their backs?
Only male gorillas become silverbacks. They get silver streaks when they are grown up. The silver fur shows other gorillas that they are adult males. This is like adult male lions having manes.
Only male gorillas become silverbacks. They get silver streaks when they are grown up. The silver fur shows other gorillas that they are adult males. This is like adult male lions having manes.
Photo from Pixabay is in the public domain.
What do gorillas eat?
Gorillas eat fruit, stems and bamboo shoots. They also eat rotten wood! The wood has sodium in it, which is important for the health of all animals.* Some gorillas eat ants as well. |
Photo from Pixabay is in the public domain.
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How do gorillas live?
They live in groups called troops. A troop has a silverback, lots of females and offspring. In the daytime, the troop looks for food in the forest. At night, each gorilla makes a nest to sleep in. A nest can be on the ground or up in a tree.
The big toe of a gorilla’s foot is opposable, like our thumb, to help it grab food or climb trees.
Gorillas can stand, but they prefer to move on all fours. This means they curl their hands into fists and walk on their knuckles.
Gorilla babies
Babies drink their mother's milk and eat leaves and fruits.
A baby gorilla can ride on its mum's back. It clings to its mum's long hair.
How are they like us?
Gorillas are our third closest relatives after chimps and bonobos.
Gorillas are our third closest relatives after chimps and bonobos.
Gorillas' hands have opposable thumbs like us so they can hold things easily.
They can laugh and feel sadness.
They are clever. They use objects as tools.**
This gorilla is using a stick to stop it from falling in the grassy water.
Photo from article by Breuer T, Ndoundou-Hockemba M, Fishlock V (2005) entitled 'First Observation of Tool Use in Wild Gorillas' (PLoS Biol 3(11): e380. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.0030380) via Wikimedia Commons. Image has been cropped. Licensed under CC BY 2.5.
What sounds do they make?
As well as laughing they can scream, grunt, roar, growl, and even hoot like an owl. They also burp as a way to say they're happy and content.***
As well as laughing they can scream, grunt, roar, growl, and even hoot like an owl. They also burp as a way to say they're happy and content.***