Lowland Gorilla
Quick Facts
Range: Coastal west Africa, including Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon.
Habitat: Dense primary and secondary forests, lowland swamps and montane forests.
Lifespan: 45-50 years
Gestation: 237-285 days
Offspring: Usually single birth. Twins are extremely rare, although twin lowland gorillas were born at the Bronx Zoo in 1995.
Size: Captive males can reach over 400 pounds. In the wild, males have been recorded at 375 pounds.
Diet: Lowland gorillas are primarily vegetarians and eat fruit, leaves, stems and other plant matter. They occasionally eat meat, insects and eggs — if they are easy to obtain — but they are not dependent on these food items.
 Characteristics: Despite what seems like a fierce appearance to some and occasional displays of chest beating, gorillas are actually gentle and intelligent animals. They live in highly developed social groups led by a dominant male. This mature male is called the silverback for the grayish fur on its back. The group includes several females and young. Lowland gorillas live primarily on the ground but may build sleeping nests on the ground or in trees. A new nest is built each night.
Threats: Threats to this animal include habitat destruction and hunting. Adult gorillas have no natural enemies.
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