Gorillas

Less than 10% of their remaining habitat could be left undisturbed by 2030

Common Name		Gorilla; Gorille (Fr); Gorila (Sp)
Scientific Name		Gorilla spp
Habitat		Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
Location		Central Africa
Status		IUCN: Eastern gorilla - Endangered (EN A2cd) Western gorilla - Endangered (EN A2cd)

Background

This information has been reviewed.

Like all great apes, the two gorilla species are threatened with extinction in the wild.

Eastern and western gorillas inhabit the shrinking habitat of equatorial Africa. There are two subspecies of western gorilla: western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla), and the recently discovered Cross River gorilla (G. g. diehli). The two eastern gorilla subspecies, mountain gorilla (G. beringei beringei) and eastern lowland or Grauer’s gorilla (G. b. graueri), inhabit the upland and mountain forests of eastern Central Africa.

These close relatives of humans are endangered mainly by hunting and logging throughout their ranges. Scientists warn that less than 10% of their remaining habitat could be left undisturbed by the year 2030. Civil unrest has also put them at risk.

Gorillas are also threatened by hunting for food, pets, and their body parts which are used in medicine and as magical charms, as well as by disease. The Cross River gorilla is probably the world’s rarest great ape, with a population of only around 300.

WWF's continent-wide African Great Apes Programme addresses the threats facing gorillas.

Physical Description

Gorillas are stocky animals with characteristically large hands, and forearms that are much shorter than the upper arm. The eyes are small and close together while the nostrils are large and prominent. A black layer of hair covers their body except for the face, ears, hands and feet.

Eastern lowland and mountain gorillas are jet black, with adult males identified by a white area on the back between the shoulders and rump. Mountain gorillas have longer, silkier fur, particularly on the arms, while western lowland gorillas have shorter hair that is grayer. Males of the latter subspecies have a saddle of lighter hair that stretches to the thighs.

Size
The gorilla can reach a height of 1.25-1.75 meters when standing on two feet. Weight is 70-140 kg in females and 135-275 kg in males.

Habitat

Major habitat type
Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests

Biogeographic realm
Afrotropical

Geographical Location
Central Africa