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Gorilla
Where Mountain Gorillas Live: Countries, Parks and Habitat
Short answer: Mountain gorillas live in two isolated transboundary landscapes in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo: the Virunga Massif and the Bwindi–Sarambwe ecosystem. They occur nowhere else in the wild. The two mountain gorilla populations 1. Virunga Massif The Virunga population moves across a connected chain of protected areas: Virunga National…
What Do Mountain Gorillas Eat? A Field-Based Diet Guide
Short answer: Mountain gorillas mainly eat leaves, stems, shoots and pith from terrestrial plants. They also eat bark, roots, flowers and fruit when available. Diet differs between the high-elevation Virunga Massif and Bwindi, where a greater diversity of fruit is available. Last fact-checked: August 2026. This guide describes observed diets; it does not use a…
Why Mountain Gorillas Are Endangered: Threats and Recovery
Short answer: Mountain gorillas are Endangered because their entire wild population is confined to two small, isolated landscapes and remains vulnerable to disease, snares, conflict and pressure around forest boundaries. Their numbers have increased through intensive conservation, but recovery has not removed these risks. Current conservation status The mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei) is classified…
Gorilla Scientific Names: Species, Subspecies and Classification
Short answer: Gorillas belong to the genus Gorilla. Scientists recognize two living species: the western gorilla (Gorilla gorilla) and the eastern gorilla (Gorilla beringei). Each species contains two generally recognized subspecies, for a total of four. Scientific names of gorillas Common name Scientific name Taxonomic level Western gorilla Gorilla gorilla Species Western lowland gorilla Gorilla…
How Strong Is a Gorilla? What Science Can—and Cannot—Measure
Short answer: Gorillas are exceptionally powerful great apes, but science has not established a trustworthy “times stronger than a human” multiplier. Popular figures such as four, six or nine times human strength do not come from a standardized experiment in which gorillas and people performed the same task. Last fact-checked: August 2026. This guide separates…
Types of Gorillas: The Two Species and Four Subspecies
Short answer: Scientists generally recognize two living gorilla species—the western gorilla and eastern gorilla—and four subspecies: western lowland, Cross River, Grauer’s and mountain gorillas. Every wild gorilla lives in equatorial Africa, but each taxon has a distinct range, ecology and conservation situation. Last fact-checked: August 2026. Scientific names follow the two-species, four-subspecies classification used in…
Baby Gorilla Facts: Birth, Development and Maternal Care
Short answer: A newborn gorilla is called an infant. Western lowland gorilla infants average about 4 pounds (2 kilograms) at birth and depend closely on their mothers for warmth, transport, milk, protection and social learning. Baby gorilla facts at a glance Gestation in western lowland gorillas lasts about eight and a half months. Births can…
Gorilla Life Cycle: From Infancy to Adulthood
Short answer: The gorilla life cycle progresses through gestation, infancy, a juvenile period, adolescence and adulthood. Development is gradual and differs by sex, taxon and individual; labels such as blackback and silverback describe male developmental stages rather than separate kinds of gorilla. 1. Gestation and birth Smithsonian reports an approximately eight-and-a-half-month gestation for western lowland…
How Tall Are Gorillas? Height, Posture and Arm Span
Short answer: Smithsonian reports that adult male western lowland gorillas can stand up to about 6 feet (1.8 metres), while adult females can stand up to about 4.5 feet (1.4 metres). These are upright measurements, not the posture gorillas normally use for travel. Gorilla height and arm span Western lowland gorilla Standing height Arm span…
Why Are Gorillas Endangered? Status, Threats and Conservation
Short answer: Gorillas are threatened by illegal killing, habitat loss and fragmentation, infectious disease, mining and conflict. Conservation status differs by taxon: the western and eastern gorilla species are Critically Endangered, as are western lowland, Cross River and Grauer’s gorillas; mountain gorillas are Endangered. Last fact-checked: August 2026. Status categories refer to IUCN assessments and…
How Long Do Gorillas Live? Wild and Zoo Lifespans
Short answer: Gorillas in the wild commonly live about 30 to 40 years. Some individuals under human care live into their 50s. Lifespan varies, and the oldest known individual should not be confused with the average. Wild versus human-care lifespan Setting General range Context Wild Often about 30–40 years Based on long-term observations and estimated…
How Much Do Gorillas Weigh? Species, Sex and Context
Short answer: Gorilla weight varies substantially by sex, species, age and individual. Smithsonian reports adult male western lowland gorillas average about 300 pounds (136 kilograms) and may reach about 500 pounds (227 kilograms); adult females are commonly about 150–200 pounds (68–91 kilograms). Credible western lowland gorilla figures Sex Reported weight Source context Adult male Average…
