| Gorilla, Mountain | |||
| Genus | Gorilla | ||
| Species | gorilla | ||
| Status | Endangered | ||
| Number Left | less than 400 in wild | ||
| Habitat | mountain forests | ||
| Distribution | Mountains of Zaire, Rwanda, and Uganda; Central and western Africa | ||
| Height |
Female: 54-60 inches (137-152 cm) Male: 66-72 inches (168-183 cm) | ||
| Length |
Female: 200 pounds (91 kg) Male: 310-400 pounds (141-181 kg) | ||
| Behavior | These gorillas live in small groups of up twenty members. The group is led by a male called the silverback, named for the area of grayish fur that spreads across his jet-black coat. The silverback will protect the females and youngsters in his group. Sometimes another related male will help him rule the family. When the youngsters reach adulthood at fifteen years of age, they move away to form their own groups. Mountain gorillas spend most of their day eating fruits and plants. They stop to rest in the afternoons, while the young gorillas play. In the evening they make nests on the ground out of branches and leaves. Their long hair will keep them warm during the cold mountain nights. | ||
| Diet | fruits, plants, leaves, branches, and bark | ||
| Life Span | In captivity, the gorillas lives to be about 50 years old. In the wild, they are lucky to survive past 35. | ||
| Conservation | Around 1900, scientists first discovered the mountain gorilla. Until then, they had known only of two types of lowland gorillas. Since then, it has taken humans less than ninety years to push the mountain gorilla to the brink of extinction. Although they are now protected, poachers continue to kill them for their skins and hands, which are sold as souvenirs. | ||
| Interesting Facts | The efforts of one wildlife researcher named Dian Fossey has given us the majority of the information we know about these rare and beautiful creatures. She spent thirteen years living with the gorillas in the wild. She firmly believed that the mountain gorilla needed protection from the poachers who hunted them. It is believed that Fossey was murdered by an angry gorilla poacher. Today, her work is continued by the "Mountain Gorilla Project." This group offers tours to small groups of people who want to observe wild gorillas. Their money is used to support research, and some is given to local farmers. Wildlife conservationists hope that famers who receive income from gorilla organizations will advocate their protection. The Project has succeeded in increasing the number of gorillas by 100. | ||
| Images and Video Clips | |||
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| Animal Communication Panel | |||
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