THE ACORN TREE would like to thank the Gorilla-On-line site and Tim Knight for the use information and photos.  We would also like the thank the Gorilla Web site and the Dian Fossey Foundation for allowing us to use information from their site.  Without their cooperation, this page could not have been made.

The gorilla is native to western and central Africa.  They are indigenous to the lowland and mountain forests in equatorial Africa. The gorilla's size and color may contribute to the reasoning that he is a ferocious beast. The gorilla is the largest of the Apes.  Males can reach a height of nearly six feet, have an arm spread of 9 ft., and weigh about 450 lb.  The gorilla is a massive hulk of thick, black hair and skin, with a face that carries a strong, jutting brow and large nostrils.  When the adult male gorilla reaches maturity, the hair on his back becomes gray and silvery colored, giving them the name of silverbacks.

Gorillas are not man-hunters. They are non-aggressive and almost shy.  They are social animals and live in family groups of anywhere from 2-30 gorillas.  They are led by the dominant male silverback.  The rest of the group consists of females, infants, and juveniles, as well as young males known as blackbacks.  When the blackbacks reach 11-13 yrs. of age, the hair on the back turns silver indicating maturity.  They will than leave the family group to begin their search to form a group of their own.  Until than the silverback lives a solitary life.  Gorillas will attempt to frighten off an intruder, by chest beating and vocalizing, and short rushes at the intruder.  This also serves as a distraction while his family group quietly withdraws to the safety of the forest.   Gorillas are known to defend one another when threatened.  One or more adult gorillas may die while trying to protect an infant gorilla from poachers.  The death of a dominant adult male gorilla can be devastating to the group.

Gorillas are vegetarians and spend their days foraging for food and resting.  The Mountain Gorilla feeds on 58 different kinds of plants.  Their diet includes vine, thistle, wild celery, roots, fruits, leaves, stalks and grubs which grow on rotting wood. They will also eat termites, ants, slugs, and snails.  At dusk, the gorilla will take limbs and leaves and make a nest to sleep in.  Each night the gorilla will make a new nest.  Baby gorillas will sleep in the nest with the mother.  A baby gorilla weighs about 4 - 5 lb when it's born and will be totally dependent on its mother. It will travel by riding on its mothers back and clinging to her.  When it is about 2 yrs. old, it will be totally weaned from the mother, but will remain in her care until about 3 yrs. of age.

Many gorillas lose their lives to poaching.  Poachers are known to ride on the logging trucks into the forests to hunt for gorillas to sell as bushmeat.  Bushmeat is the term given to meat, which is gotten to sell as food, from the bush in Africa.  Gorillas are often found caught in wire traps meant for antelope.  The head and hands of the gorilla are considered prize trophies.  In addition to hunters and poachers, the gorilla also has to deal with the loss of habitat due to agriculture, farming, fuel and housing.  Patrols in the area are hindered by the lack of manpower and funding, making protection of the area difficult and near impossible.

Gorillas are truly beautiful creatures.  So like us and yet so different.  What separates them from us?  You can't look at these photos without understanding just what fueled Dian Fossey and the many others who gave of themselves in order to learn more about this species, and than struggled to protect and preserve them, and to teach others.   The gorilla is an endangered species.  There are many Western Lowland Gorilla, numbering about 100,000.  The Eastern Gorilla is only about 10,000 in number.  Sadly, there are only about 650 Mountain Gorilla left in the world.  About half their number live in the Virunga Volcanoes, and the other half live in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest area.

Gorillas are truly beautiful creatures.  So like us and yet so different.  What separates them from us?  You can't look at these photos without understanding just what fueled Dian Fossey and the many others who gave of themselves in order to learn more about this species, and than struggled to protect and preserve them, and to teach others.   The gorilla is an endangered species.  There are many Western Lowland Gorilla, numbering about 100,000.  The Eastern Gorilla is only about 10,000 in number.  Sadly, there are only about 650 Mountain Gorilla left in the world.  About half their number live in the Virunga Volcanoes, and the other half live in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest area.

Photos courtesy of Tim Knight, copyright 1996-2001 Tim Knight Gorilla On Line.