Gorillas: “In Verge Of Extinction”

Table of contents

Ð'* Gorilla вЂ¦Ð²Ð‚¦Ð²Ð‚¦Ð²Ð‚¦Ð²Ð‚¦Ð²Ð‚¦Ð²Ð‚¦Ð²Ð‚¦Ð²Ð‚¦Ð²Ð‚¦Ð²Ð‚¦Ð²Ð‚¦Ð²Ð‚¦Ð²Ð‚¦Ð²Ð‚¦Ð²Ð‚¦Ð²Ð‚¦Ð²Ð‚¦Ð²Ð‚¦Ð²Ð‚¦Ð²Ð‚¦Ð²Ð‚¦Ð²Ð‚¦Ð²Ð‚¦Ð²Ð‚¦pg.3

Ð'* Physical characteristics and behaviorвЂ¦Ð²Ð‚¦Ð²Ð‚¦Ð²Ð‚¦Ð²Ð‚¦Ð²Ð‚¦Ð²Ð‚¦Ð²Ð‚¦Ð²Ð‚¦Ð²Ð‚¦Ð²Ð‚¦.. pg.4

Ð'* EndangermentвЂ¦Ð²Ð‚¦Ð²Ð‚¦Ð²Ð‚¦Ð²Ð‚¦Ð²Ð‚¦Ð²Ð‚¦Ð²Ð‚¦Ð²Ð‚¦Ð²Ð‚¦Ð²Ð‚¦Ð²Ð‚¦Ð²Ð‚¦Ð²Ð‚¦Ð²Ð‚¦Ð²Ð‚¦Ð²Ð‚¦Ð²Ð‚¦Ð²Ð‚¦Ð²Ð‚¦Ð²Ð‚¦...pg.5

Gorilla’s

The gorilla is the largest primate, weighing as much as 275 kg (600 lb). Gorillas

are forest-associated animals. Most gorillas inhabit lowland tropical rainforests and

montane rainforests between 1500 - 3500 m (4900 - 11,500 ft). Different populations

have exhibited preferences for forest margins, secondary forest, swamp forests, bamboo

forests, riverside forests and primary forest. The diets of the eastern and western gorilla

populations differ considerably. Eastern animals are predominantly folivorous, but those

in the west eat great quantities of fruit. Gorillas spend most of their time foraging on the

ground, although young animals and females, particularly lowland gorillas, frequently

feed and sleep in trees.Before nightfall, they settle into their nests, which are freshly

constructed each night. Gorillas live in groups ranging in size from 2 individuals to as

many as 38. The western populations have smaller group sizes, averaging 5 members,

whereas eastern groups average 9 (website).

Gorillas are divided into two species and either four or five subspecies. Its DNA is 97%-

98% identical to that of a human, and are the next closest living relatives to humans after

the two chimpanzee species. The gorilla is found in two principal areas: equatorial West

Africa and eastern Central Africa. The western lowland gorilla subspecies occurs in West

Africa and is the most widespread. The recently identified Cross River gorilla, the rarest

of the gorilla subspecies, is found on both sides of the Nigeria-Cameroon border. The

eastern lowland gorilla subspecies occurs in the eastern portion of The Democratic

Republic of the Congo. The mountain gorilla subspecies occurs in two populations, one

on the extinct volcanoes of the Virunga Range along the borders of Rwanda, Uganda and

The Democratic Republic of the Congo; and the other in the Bwindi (Impenetrable)

Physical characteristics and behavior

Gorillas move around by knuckle-walking. Adult males range in height from 165-175 cm (5 ft 5 in вЂ" 5 ft 9 in), and in weight from 140вЂ"200 kg (310вЂ"440 lb). Adult females are often half the size of a silverback, averaging about 140 cm (4 ft 7 in) tall and 100 kg (220 lb). Occasionally, a silverback of over 183 cm (6 ft) and 225 kg (500 lb) has been recorded in the wild. However, obese gorillas in captivity have reached a weight of 270 kg (600 lb).Gorillas have a facial structure which is described as mandibular prognathism, that is, their mandible protrudes farther out than the maxilla. Eastern gorillas are darker colored than Western gorillas, with Mountain gorilla being the darkest of all. Mountain gorillas also have the thickest hair. The Western lowland gorilla can be brown or grayish with a reddish forehead. In addition, gorillas that live in lowland forests are more slender and agile than the more bulky Mountain gorilla. Almost all gorillas share the same blood type B and, like humans, have individual finger prints. The gorilla is primarily terrestrial but is fully capable of climbing. Some have been observed feeding in trees at heights of 40 m (130 ft), and even a large male, weighing at least 200 kg (440 lb), frequently climbed to 20 m (65 ft). Contrary to general opinion, the gorilla is not afraid of water. Recent studies of the western lowland gorilla have shown that it is quite happy to wade around in swamp forests in search of edible aquatic plants. Gorillas are now known to wade freely through swamps and streams. Gorillas spend most of their time foraging on the ground, although young animals and females,