Gorillas are one of the largest of the great apes. They are endangered in their native habitats thanks to the activity at humans that are living around them. Gorillas walk on all fours the knuckles to carry the weight of their torso and their head. All African apes are diverged from one common ancestor that is believed to have walked the earth about 5 million years ago.
To make sure that these great animals have the chance to survive, knowing these important facts is critical. By knowing more about gorillas, we have a chance to make sure their habitats remain intact.
1. They’re Social Animals
Gorillas live in social stable family groups. Most guerrilla families consist of one adult male and he is usually called the silverback. This is because the silver hair on his back grows after he reaches an adult age. There will then be multiple females and lots of juveniles and infants. Male gorillas stay with her family until around the age of eight. Then they will either join another family or form a new social group.
2. Vegans Are Awesome
Although gorillas might seem scary at first, especially with their large teeth, they are mainly for yes. Most of the gorilla’s diet is fruit, leaves, shoots, or stems. They may target small animal prey, but even then it is generally with insects or grubs. Gorillas have been known to enjoy crunch of an occasional snail. What gorillas will not do is hunt down another mammal they attack when they feel threatened.
3. They Are a Smart Creature
The emotions that gorillas display have been known for some time. In the wild, they have been seen showing signs of grief, happiness, and fear. In 2005, gorillas were also using tools in order to perform basic tasks. In one instance, scientists were able to observe gorillas using sticks in order to test the depth of a muddy water crossing. The classic sign of the gorilla is to have them beat their chests with their fists. This is actually something that happens quite rarely and is a sign of aggression. It is typically only seen when a male gorilla is threatened or surprised.
4. Lots of Words
You see a gorilla, you probably won’t hear them say anything. This doesn’t mean that they don’t have a language that is all their own gorillas have been observed using a highly complex set of vocalization which are used to communicate information to one another. This includes searching for food, showing their young how to survive, and even flirtation in some instances. Like other apes, gorillas have also been shown to be capable of learning basic human sign language in order to communicate across species.
5. There’s Two of Them
There are actually two different species of gorillas. There are some species in each group, but in total there are only four total different types of gorillas. Hunting and habitat loss are the greatest threats. The Cross River Gorilla is extremely rare with only 300 animals in the wild living in a family groups.
