*Top 29* Amazing Gorilla Facts
Gorillas are large primates, native to the forests of central Africa. They are known for their robust build, large size, and distinctive physical features.
Gorillas are primarily herbivorous, feeding on leaves, shoots, fruits, and occasionally insects. They live in social groups called troops, led by a dominant male known as a silverback.
Read on to learn some Amazing Gorilla Facts!
1) Gorillas are Mammals (Primates)
Gorillas are mammals which means they have hair or fur, are warm-blooded, have lungs that breathe air, and a complex brain. And they give birth to live young and nurse them.
Gorillas are primates, an order of mammals that also includes monkeys, apes, lemurs, lorises, tarsiers, and humans. Gorillas are the largest primates in the world.
2) There are 4 Gorilla Subspecies
There are four recognized subspecies of gorillas: Mountain Gorillas, Eastern Lowland Gorillas, Western Lowland Gorillas, and Cross River Gorillas.
Mountain Gorillas are found in the mountainous regions of the Virunga Massif and the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. This subspecies is critically endangered, with only around 1,000 individuals remaining.
Eastern Lowland Gorillas inhabit the lowland forests of the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. This subspecies is also critically endangered due to habitat loss and poaching.
Western Lowland Gorillas are the most widespread and numerous, inhabiting lowland tropical forests across its range. They are the only Gorilla subspecies found in North American zoos.
Cross River Gorillas are scattered across the lowland montane forests and rainforests of Cameroon and Nigeria. This subspecies is critically endangered, with only a few hundred individuals remaining.
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3) Gorillas are our Closest Primate Relatives
Gorillas are like humans in their genetic makeup, being the closest primate relatives after chimpanzees and bonobos. We share an amazing 98.3% of our DNA with gorillas!
They’re smart and show it by laughing, feeling sad, and expressing other emotions.
4) Female Gorillas are Pregnant for 9 Months
Just like humans, gorillas carry their unborn babies for nine months. During this time, they carry their offspring in their womb until giving birth. And they usually only give birth to a single baby.
5) Female Gorillas have a Slow Reproduction Rate
Female gorillas typically give birth approximately every four years, with single infants being more common than twins. However, there is a high mortality rate of around 40% for newborns. As a result, many females may only have 2 to 6 offspring throughout their lifetime.
6) Babies are Nursed for 4 Years
Females watch over and care for the young. Infants require considerate parental investment, and are nursed and carried by their mothers for the first 4 years. And then remain close for several more years.
7) Gorillas are Herbivores
Gorillas are herbivores, which means they mainly eat plants like leaves, fruits, and shoots. Their diet consists mostly of vegetation, and they spend a significant amount of time foraging for food in their forest habitat.
Males can eat more than 50 pounds of food a day. The forest is a buffet of leaves, stems, branches, shoots, roots, seeds, insects, and fruit.
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8) Male Gorillas Weigh 350–450 pounds
Gorillas are one of the biggest, most powerful living primates. Male Gorillas are larger than females. They typically weigh between 350–450 pounds when they reach maturity. Adult females typically weigh between 170–250 pounds.
Gorilla weight also varies by subspecies: The smaller Western Gorilla weighs 150 to 400 pounds, whereas the Eastern Lowland can weigh up to 550 pounds in the wild.
9) Gorillas can see in Color just like Humans
Gorillas, like humans, have color vision. This enables them to perceive a range of hues in their environment.
With their keen sense of color, gorillas navigate their surroundings with clarity and precision. They can identify ripe fruits and vibrant foliage while foraging in the forest.
10) Gorillas Arms are Longer than their Legs
Gorillas have remarkably long arms that exceed the length of their legs. They aid them in traversing their forest habitats with ease. This allows them to swing from branch to branch and reach for food in the treetops efficiently.
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11) Gorillas Communicate through a Variety of Methods
Gorillas are expert communicators and talk without words! They use their body, gestures, vocalizations, and facial expressions to chat with each other.
From chest beating, playful jumps to friendly hugs, gorillas show how they feel and what they want without saying a word. It’s like watching a silent but fascinating conversation among these amazing creatures!
12) Gorillas are Smart
Gorillas have been observed making and using tools in the wild. In captivity, they have successfully learned how to communicate in sign language. One female captive gorilla, Koko, was said to understand about 2,000 words in English.
Scientists have observed that gorillas even have the capacity for long-term planning. They’ve also observed that gorillas apparently show an understanding of humor amongst themselves.
13) Gorillas have Opposable Thumbs
Just like humans, Gorillas have an opposable thumb on their hand for grasping. In addition, they also have opposable thumbs on their feet!
Which means they can eat with their feet. Gorillas use their opposable thumbs and toes for activities like climbing trees, building nests, grooming, and engaging in playful interactions.
14) Every Gorilla has a Distinct Nose Print
Just like how humans have unique fingerprints, Gorillas have distinct nose prints. This nose print serves as a form of identification. Researchers use the shape of the nostrils and the pattern of creases to identify individual gorillas.
15) A Family Group is Called a Troop
Troops typically consist of several adult females and their offspring. It averages 8–10 individuals. The troop is led by an adult dominant male known as a Silverback. Also, gorilla groups with multiple males also exist.
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16) A Silverback Leads the Troop
The troop of gorillas is led by a dominant male known as a silverback. The silverback is usually the largest and strongest member of the group. He is responsible for protecting the troop and making decisions about their movements and activities.
The Silverback determines where the troop rests and sleeps. If he is challenged by a younger male or males outside the troop, the Silverback will defend his family by chest beating, vocalizing, barring his teeth, and charging.
17) Gorillas Have Large Brains
Gorillas have large brains and this contributes to their intelligence and complex behaviors.
Just like humans, Gorillas can problem solve and have a large brain mass to body weight ratio.
This large brain size allows gorillas to remember things, make decisions, and communicate with each other in their social groups.
18) Gorillas have 32 Teeth
Just like humans, Gorillas have 32 teeth. Their teeth have a similar arrangement of incisors, canines, premolars, and molars.
These teeth are adapted to their herbivorous diet, allowing them to chew tough vegetation efficiently. With their strong jaws and teeth, gorillas can process a variety of plants to meet their nutritional needs in the wild.
19) Gorillas “Walk” on their Knuckles
Gorillas can stand upright. However, their primary form of locomotion is to “knuckle walk.” They curl their fingers under and walk on their knuckles, supporting their long arms and protecting their palms.
This adaptation allows them to distribute their weight and move efficiently on the ground.
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20) Gorillas are Fast Runners
Despite their large size, gorillas are surprisingly fast movers. With an average groundspeed of 20 miles per hour and recorded speeds of up to 25 miles per hour, they can easily outrun humans.
21) Gorillas in the Wild take a Break during the Heat of the Day
The troop takes a break from foraging during the heat of the day. The juveniles play while the adults nap. Adults – especially the Silverback- enjoy a good wrestling session with infants and young.
22) Every Night Gorillas Make a Nest to Sleep on
The Silverback decides where the troop will sleep.
Each individual adult makes a night nest. They fold down vegetations, bend branches, and weave twigs and leave together. Infants sleep with their mothers. The rest of the troop spreads out nearby.
In zoos, the keepers give each gorilla fresh hay to make a night nest.
23) Gorillas Reach Maturity between 7-10 Years Old
Between 7-10 years old, gorillas reach maturity, a pivotal stage in their lives. Young males, called blackbacks, leave their troop to find a mate. Some wander alone, while others seek to start their own gorilla family.
Also, young females seek a mate from another group, joining a new troop to begin their own family. This period marks the transition to adulthood and the establishment of new family units among gorillas.
24) Gorillas are at Least 6 Times Stronger than Humans
Gorillas are renowned for their incredible upper-body strength. The strength of a gorilla is six times that of a human.
Gorillas carry and propel their massive bodies with the help of their arms, chests, and backs. They effortlessly climb trees, break through vegetation, and defend themselves against predators.
25) Gorillas don’t need Fresh Water
Amazingly, gorillas don’t often require sources of fresh water to hydrate. Their meals and early dew provide enough hydration. It allows gorillas to thrive in their forest habitat without the need for frequent access to bodies of water.
26) Gorillas have few Predators
Gorillas have few natural predators due to their large size and strength. In their natural habitats, adult gorillas are typically safe from most predators. However, young gorillas may occasionally fall prey to leopards. In fact, humans make up the only confirmed predator of gorillas.
27) Cross River Gorillas Are Critically Endangered
Cross River Gorillas are the most critically endangered gorillas, with a projected population of under 300 remaining. They are at risk due to habitat loss, fragmentation, and poaching.
28) Gorilla Populations are Dwindling
Gorillas in the wild are gradually dwindling in population. They are being hunted for “bush meat” in war-torn areas, or poached for the illegal wildlife trade. There’s also a widespread loss of gorilla habitat due to logging, mining, and agriculture. This forces gorillas into smaller and more fragmented areas.
29) Gorillas are Vital to our Ecology
Gorillas play a vital role in their ecosystems as seed dispersers and forest engineers. Their presence keeps the forest ecosystem balanced and diverse.
When they travel, Gorillas give back to the forest by providing fertilize seed packets, delivered to the first floor through their poop.
Final Thoughts
Gorillas are intelligent, emotional, and deeply social creatures that share much in common with us. They play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of their forest ecosystems by spreading seeds and shaping vegetation.
Sadly, gorillas face serious threats from habitat loss, poaching, and disease. Protecting them means protecting the health of entire forests and the many species that depend on them.
