Gorillas are known as gentle giants and have always fascinated people, young and old alike. They are the largest of all primates; the group of animals that includes monkeys, lemurs, orangutans, chimpanzees and humans. Gorillas are typically peaceful, family-oriented, plant-eating animals.  Many people like to compare gorillas with humans, but there are several differences. Although a gorilla is able to stand upright, they prefer to walk using their hands as well as their legs. Their arms are much longer than their legs, and they can use the backs of their fingers like extra feet when they walk. Did you know gorillas and chimpanzees are the only animals able to knuckle walk?

Did you also know that a group of gorillas living together is called a “troop.” There can be 5 to 30 gorillas in one troop, led by a strong, experienced male known as a "Silverback".  His job is a big one!!  He is responsible for the safety and well being of the members of his troop. The Silverback makes all the decisions, such as where the troop will travel for food each day, when they will stop to eat or rest, and where they will spend the night.

Gorillas are generally peaceful creatures, but sometimes a younger male from another troop will challenge the Silverback. To scare unwanted gorillas away, he will beat his chest with cupped hands to make a loud noise, scream, bare his teeth, then charge forward. Sometimes he will break off branches and shake them at the intruder.

Can you imagine waking up each morning surrounded by food?  Almost everything a gorilla eats is plant material, so life in the forest is like living in a huge restaurant! Gorilla food includes leaves, stems, fruits, seeds, and roots. And gorillas love to eat, it’s their favorite activity!  An adult male will eat up to 40 pounds , of food each day. A gorillas large stomach can hold the bulky food they eat. Strong jaws help them chew tough stems.

A gorilla troop does not stay in the same place for more than a day. After all, they don’t want to deplete their food source!  Each morning the Silverback will lead his troop to a new area where food is plentiful. After a morning of munching, each adult gorilla gathers leaves, twigs, and branches to make a day nest for resting while the young play. After their nap, the gorillas will eat again until bedtime, when they make yet another nest, either on the ground or in a tree, for a good night’s sleep. Gorillas never use the same nest twice.  Gorillas are found in lowland tropical forests and are considered an currently considered an endangered species because they are hunted by humans for their meat.

A female gorilla is ready to have babies when she is about eight years old.  She must first leave the safety of her own troop and find another troop or a lone Silverback to live with. A newborn grows quickly. At five to six months old it learns to walk, and by 18 months of age it can follow Mom on foot for short distances. Still, the safest place for the young gorilla is on its mothers back as she travels through the dense vegetation of their forest home.

Young gorillas learn by imitating what the others in the troop are doing, and by play fighting with other young gorillas. Even the stern Silverbacks are gentle with the little ones as they practice their new skills. A young gorilla remains close to its Mom, sharing her nest, until he or she is four to six years old.

Fun facts to know about gorillas:

A baby gorilla can cling to the long hairs on its mom for a ride, leaving the mother’s hands free for walking.
Gorillas are very hairy, except for their faces, palms, and soles of their feet.
 The adult males, or Silverbacks, are almost twice the size of the adult females.
 No two gorilla noses are alike! Researchers in the wild take close-up photos of each gorilla’s face to help identify individuals.