Gorillas

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colspan=2 style="text-align: center; background-color: transparent" | Gorilla
Male Western Gorilla
Conservation status
Endangered (IUCN 3.1)
colspan=2 style="min-width:15em; text-align: center; background-color: transparent" | Scientific classification
Missing taxonomy template ([//en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?action=edit&title=Template:taxonomy/Gorilla&preload=Template:Taxonomy/preload fix]):	Gorilla
Species	Template:Taxonomy/Gorilla G. G. gorilla
colspan=2 style="text-align: center; background-color: transparent" | Binomial name
Template:Taxonomy/Gorilla Gorilla G. gorilla (Savage, 1847)

The gorilla is a large ape that is native to the forests of central Sub-Saharan Africa. It is the largest living primate and is divided into two species: the Eastern Gorilla (Gorilla beringei) and the Western Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla), and four or five subspecies. They are predominantly ground-dwelling and predominantly herbivorous, consuming mostly plant material along with some small insects. Gorillas' natural habitats cover tropical or subtropical forests in Africa, and they are primarily diurnal, meaning most of their activities occur during the day.

Description

Gorillas are characterized by their robust build with broad chests, long arms, and short legs. Adult males are known as "silverbacks" due to the distinctive silver-colored hair on their backs, which develops when they mature. Adult males can weigh up to 195 kg (430 lbs), while females are generally smaller, weighing about half as much as males. Gorillas have large heads with a prominent brow ridge, small ears, and large nostrils. Their arms are longer than their legs and they move by knuckle-walking.

Behavior

Gorillas live in groups called troops or bands, which typically consist of one or more adult males, several adult females, and their offspring. The dominant male, the silverback, leads the group and is responsible for its safety, mediating conflicts, and deciding the movements and activities of the group. Gorillas are generally peaceful and shy; they use a variety of vocalizations, postures, and gestures to communicate within the troop.

Habitat and Distribution

Gorillas inhabit a range of habitats from dense forests to swamps. Eastern gorillas live in the mountainous forests of eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda, while Western gorillas live in lowland swamps and forests as far west as Gabon, Central African Republic, and Cameroon.

Conservation

Gorillas are classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Their populations are threatened by habitat loss due to logging and agricultural expansion, poaching for the bushmeat trade, and diseases like Ebola. Conservation efforts include anti-poaching patrols, habitat preservation, and ecotourism which provides funding for conservation and gives economic incentives for local communities to protect gorillas.

In Culture

Gorillas have been a subject of fascination in Western culture and are often featured in books, movies, and television shows. They are sometimes misrepresented as aggressive and dangerous, but studies and observations have shown that they are generally non-aggressive and avoid confrontations.