The Gorilla Facts Research Desk explains peer-reviewed gorilla studies without turning tentative findings into certainty. Each report identifies what researchers measured, which gorillas were studied, the sample size, the principal result and the limitations readers need to understand.
Latest research summaries
- Male mountain gorilla hormone development across the lifespan
- Growth differences between the Bwindi and Virunga populations
- Personality, learning and cognitive enrichment in zoo-housed western gorillas
Browse the complete gorilla research archive.
What every research summary should tell you
- Research question: what the study attempted to learn.
- Population: species, location and whether gorillas were wild or under human care.
- Methods: observations, non-invasive samples, experiments or statistical models.
- Sample size: the number of individuals, samples or observations.
- Findings: the results actually supported by the analysis.
- Limitations: uncertainty, possible confounding factors and limits on generalization.
- Primary source: journal, DOI or official repository link.
How we handle uncertainty
A relationship between two measurements does not automatically prove that one caused the other. Findings from zoo-housed gorillas may not generalize to wild populations, while results from one wild population may not describe another species or habitat. Small samples can still be valuable for endangered species research, but sample size and study design must remain visible.
Research ethics and welfare
Gorilla research should minimize disturbance and follow relevant ethical, veterinary and protected-area requirements. We give special attention to non-invasive approaches, disease prevention and whether study procedures were appropriate for the population involved.
Corrections and updates
Research interpretation can change as studies are corrected, retracted or followed by stronger evidence. Reports include original publication links and are updated when a material change is identified. Submit concerns through our corrections policy.
For researchers and institutions
If you are an author, field program or institution and believe a summary misstates your work, contact us with the paper citation and the passage at issue. We distinguish factual corrections from differences in interpretation and describe substantive amendments transparently.