Western lowland gorilla

Gorilla gorilla gorilla

Gorillas are the largest living great apes. They communicate with one another using a wide variety of vocalisations, including grunts, growls and calls, as well as through eye contact, gestures and other body signals.

Red List

Critically Endangered

Breeding programme

Gorillas live in groups led by older males with silver-grey backs. These so-called silverbacks are the most socially adept animals in a family group. They usually resolve the relatively rare disputes between adult females by making eye contact or stepping in to mediate, without, however, displaying any physical aggression.

Mutual grooming is rare amongst gorillas. However, they are often seen using their index and middle fingers to clean their noses, ears and eyes. They clean their fingernails with their mouths. They rub their fur against stones and tree trunks.

Gorillas tend to shy away from water, as they cannot swim.

Taxonomy

Hominidae, gorillas (Gorilla, 2 species)

Habitat

rainforest up to 1,600 metres above sea level, marshland

Behaviour and ecology

ground-dwelling; also sleeps in large trees; sleeping nests are usually on the ground, though sometimes raised on large forked branches up to 150 cm in diameter; the ranges of the individual groups overlap considerably