Western Gorilla Profile, Habitat, Diet, Behavior, Facts

(Last Updated On: May 26, 2023)

What are the most populous gorilla subspecies? It’s the western lowland gorilla. Of the four gorilla subspecies, the western lowland gorilla is the most common and populous. Since these secretive apes live in some of Africa’s most isolated and deep jungles, it is impossible to estimate their population with any degree of accuracy. However, up to 100,000 people are believed to make up the whole population.

The severely endangered species of western gorillas. Over the previous 20 to 25 years, they have seen a population reduction of more than 60% due to abnormally high levels of sickness and hunting. Gorillas may be preyed upon by huge animals like leopards and crocodiles. All gorilla populations face the biggest danger from humans.

Western gorilla profile

Western Lowland Gorilla (Gorilla Gorilla Gorilla) is one of two groups of West Africa (Gorilla Gorilla) that lives in Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Monterey, Congo, Central African Republic, Primary and Secondary Forests, and Lowland Wetlands.

Western gorillas are a ubiquitous animal, but most of their diets are made up of fruit eaters that are known to travel great distances through the western gorilla forests. … Western gorilla children stay with their mothers until they are a few years old and independent.

Description

Western gorillas are a species that has more individuals in the wild. There are two subspecies: lowland gorilla (gorilla gorilla gorilla) and cross river gorilla (gorilla gorilla dilli) in the west.

This species has large and buried individuals. The average male height is 1.55 meters, and the average female is 1.35 meters. Depending on the captive individuals, their weight is on average 5 kg between women and men is 7 kg. Their puzzle is short, with strong muscles in the jaw area.

Dark fur covers most of their body. Gorilla Gorilla species have a more pronounced tone than their former relatives who may show a brown or even somewhat reddish coat.

Distribution and Habitat

A few years ago, the distribution of western gorillas was almost in an uninhabited region, but now there are small and isolated populations and they have disappeared in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This species still lives in Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, and Gabon.

Each subspecies has its own range of distribution. The lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorillas) live in the regions of Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, and the Central African Republic. It continues south of the Sanaga River, east of the Obangi River, and the mouth of the Congo River. Cross River Gorilla (Gorilla Gorilla Dehli) has a limited distribution, as it only lives in a small area between Nigeria and Cameroon.

These mainly live in lowland tropical forests, wetland forests, and primary and secondary forests.

Western gorilla Feeding

In order to find fruit trees and food, a gorilla travels around 1-4 kilometers on average every day.

Gorillas are basically vegetarian. Western gorillas feed on leaves, buds, and especially fruits. Their availability varies throughout the year, so their use may also vary. They eat large quantities of fruits of the species Dialium, Tetrapalura, Chrysophilium, and Llandophia. Occasionally they catch ants, pimples, worms, grubs, and pests.

When the fruit is scarce they are forced to eat leaves, woody plants, bark, and substandard bs herbs, such as those of Ephraim and Palicota.

Behavior

Western Gorilla lives in a squad of 20-24, with a leader who is a “silverback” male in charge of defending the girls and their lineage in the group. Both sexes leave their native soldiers in their youth and move on to other groups to avoid cross-breeding and leadership conflicts.

Their lives are peaceful, with very few aggressive events. In case of danger, the Silverback threatens to intimidate the male entrant; So he stands on two legs, gives a loud voice, and beats his chest with both hands.

In case of danger, the Silverback man speaks loudly and beats his chest with two hands.

Group members interact with each other through alarm calls, facial gestures, movements, gestures, and touch. These are daily and relatively fast because they do not migrate although they travel together for months and years in search of food. Thus, they are not regional.

Characteristics

The somewhat smaller stature, brown-grey coats, and reddish chests set apart western lowland gorillas from other gorilla subspecies. They also have smaller ears and larger heads with stronger brow ridges. The western lowland gorilla has not been kept from declining despite its large population.

Reproduction

It is a polygon species like all gorillas. Women can begin to have children when they are 8 or 9 years old, though the average sexual maturity is ten years old.

Influential males or leaders can only mate with their wives in the group, and this can happen at any time of the year because there is no specific breeding season. The gestation period is about 8.5 months, and usually, only one baby is born about 2 kg.

Mothers nurse their babies for 3 or 4 years and they transport and take care of them. Men rarely communicate with children. Many children die; If a woman gives birth to a twin, she lets one die because both care and transportation are tough.

Their life expectancy in the wild is up to 40 years.

Threat and Protection

They suffer prey, disease, and habitat loss. This species has appeared on the International Union Red List of Nature Conservation as a “critically endangered species”. Regardless, it is a species prone to predators, infectious diseases, and habitat loss. The problem of short births of the species exacerbates the problem, as the number of individuals does not increase rapidly enough.

Gorilla hunting is banned internationally. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) has included the species in danger of extinction in the first place. The problem, however, is that in some African countries where they live, conservation laws are not as effective as they used to be.

Facts

According to estimates, gorilla strength is equivalent to 10 times their body weight. Silverbacks at full maturity are really more powerful than 20 adults put together. A well-trained guy can bench press just 885 lb (401.5 kg), but a Silverback gorilla can lift 4,000 lb (1,810 kg).

What makes gorillas so powerful? Their genes, DNA, and bone structure are such that their bodies, particularly their arms, acquire the kind of strength that allows them to endure the severe circumstances of the jungle.

Western Gorilla Profile, Habitat, Diet, Behavior, Facts