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Diet
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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…
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What Do Gorillas Eat? Diets of Wild and Captive Gorillas
Short answer: Gorillas eat predominantly plant foods—including leaves, stems, shoots, pith, bark and fruit—but the balance varies by species, habitat and season. Western gorillas generally eat more fruit when it is available, while mountain gorillas rely heavily on terrestrial herbs. Some populations also consume ants or termites. Last fact-checked: August 2026. Percentages from one field…