Western Lowland Gorillas.
In Angola, Cameroon, the Central African Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Gabon, two subspecies of the Western gorilla, known as Western lowland gorillas, inhabit montane, primary, and secondary forests as well as lowland swamplands. Out of the four subspecies of gorillas, the smallest is the western lowland gorilla. Only the lowland gorillas really live in captivity, such as zoos, apart from the forest and marshy environments they normally occupy.
Despite being the smallest of all the gorilla subspecies, lowland gorillas are very large and powerful. With the exception of the face, ears, hands, and feet, lowland gorillas’ whole body is covered in dense black hair and jet black skin. Male western lowland gorillas are known as chilly silverbacks because their back hairs become grey as they age and eventually fall off.
Lowland gorillas’ hands are relatively huge, with thumbs that are enormous and nails on fingers that resemble those of humans. Lowland gorillas have tiny eyes and ears, big nostrils, short muzzles, and noticeable forehead ridges. The lowland gorillas have powerful teeth, including four sets of frontal canines and massive molars, which they use to crush and bite fruits and plants that they find in their environment. Savor these Congo Safari Tours adventures.
Male lowland gorillas may weigh up to 270 kg and stand upright up to 1.8 m. The average weight of men is 140 kg, whilst the average weight of girls is 90 kg.
Western Lowland Gorilla Behavior
Lowland gorillas, often known as gorilla families, are social groupings that typically consist of little more than 30 individuals. They have an average home range of 8 to 45 square kilometers and move 3 to 5 kilometers each day. Territorial behavior is not shown by lowland gorillas. One silverback, who serves as the group’s leader, three adult females and their young, and male gorillas—typically black backs—make up a normal gorilla family.
As the leader of the gorilla group, the silverback has the job of protecting the family by guiding them to eating and breeding grounds, among other things. In fact, a silverback may sacrifice his life to defend his family. In addition to eating and resting, lowland gorillas spend a large portion of their day playing, forming bonds, and grooming. Western lowland gorillas eat fruits, leaves from plants, and sometimes tiny insects.
Western lowland gorilla females reach reproductive maturity at the age of 8 or 9, giving birth to a single baby after around 9 months of gestation. When lowland gorillas are pregnant, they seldom display any symptoms, and the babies they give birth to are generally quite little and tend to cling to their mother’s fur. Lowland gorilla mothers and fathers are very protective of their young. Gorillas do rely on their moms for up to five years, and they typically have a tuft of white hair on their backsides.
Although they may climb trees, Western lowland gorillas are often observed on their fours on the ground.
It is true that lowland gorillas can communicate with one another. At least 22 different vocalizations are known to be used by lowland gorillas, including screams, barking, and hooting. It is known that lowland gorillas may also learn gestures and sign language.
Risks to Western Lowland Gorillas’ Survival
Although the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) presently lists Western lowland gorillas as critically endangered, the gorilla population is growing and the future is bright thanks to conservation initiatives.
The loss of habitat, which results from human activities like settlement and farming destroying forests and making the gorillas vulnerable to poaching, particularly for bush meat, is one of the dangers to the survival of lowland gorillas for future generations. Additionally, illnesses have consistently threatened the lowland gorillas’ ability to survive.
Lowland gorilla trekking excursions provide the chance to see Western lowland gorillas in the wild. In Africa, gorilla safaris provide a fantastic opportunity to see these critically endangered and endangered creatures that live in certain African nations. For an incredible gorilla trekking experience, get in touch with a reliable Africa safari trip operator if you want to see lowland gorillas, especially lowland gorillas.
