Science & Technology

The population of these gentle giants is critically endangered.

One of the most famous gorillas of all time is Koko, a female western lowland gorilla who learned more than 1,000 words in sign language. She also understood many English words (around 2,000) and even created several beautiful paintings. In 1978, Koko took a picture of her reflection in a mirror, officially becoming the first animal to take a selfie! Given Koko’s accomplishments, it goes without saying that the great apes are intelligent, creative, and capable primates.

Large Mammals With Larger Diets

Gorillas live in the tropical forests of equatorial Africa. There are two species: the western gorilla and the eastern lowland gorilla. Within those are four subspecies, all of which reside within ten African countries.

Mature male gorillas, also called silverbacks, are the leaders of the families or groups that live together. The rest of the group consists of the siblings and young of the leading silverbacks, as well as females that join the group.

Silverbacks are commonly more than twice the size of their female counterparts (sexual dimorphism). Fully grown males weigh an average of 395 pounds and stand approximately 5’7” tall. Females average 176 pounds and a height of 4’3”. Both the males and females can reach running speeds of around 25 miles per hour and have “nose prints” unique to each gorilla, similar to human fingerprints.

All gorillas are covered in coarse black/brown hair and typically have hairless faces, palms, and soles. Silverbacks earn their name from the strip of silver hair that is found on the back of their necks and between their shoulders. Younger males lack the silver touch, leading them to be called blackbacks. The animals have large, strong chests and protruding bellies. Their long arms allow them to walk on the knuckles of their hands. Their massive arms and shoulders make them extraordinarily strong, but, unless feeling threatened, they are overall gentle creatures.

Gorillas are diurnal, meaning they are active during the daytime hours. Each primate builds a sleeping nest daily and often makes a fresh one each night. The location of the nests — on the ground or in the trees — depends on the animal’s age and capabilities.

A gorilla’s diet consists of fruits, plants, and other vegetation around its habitat. They are vegetarians with opposable thumbs that allow them to strip stems, peel, and eat selectively, reaching the most remote parts of the thick forests in which they live. An adult gorilla consumes up to 40 pounds of food every day and uses hindgut fermentation (an enlarged gut for specialized digestion) to extract nutrients from the food they eat.

Gorillas and Their Social Dispositions

Gorillas are social animals that live in groups of up to 30. They spend their days foraging for food, climbing, and napping in their tropical habitats. While mostly gentle, males will manage conflicts by beating their chests, screaming, grunting, roaring, and engaging in ground displays of intimidation. Fighting is rare, but when it comes to that, the fights are typically severe and lead to serious injury or even death.

Being intelligent animals, gorillas use sticks and other props as tools. They may check the depth of water before crossing it or ensure the stability of a platform before standing on it.

Gorillas are caring, gentle, and instructional with their young. Both male and female play a role in teaching little ones the ways of life in the wild.

The life expectancy of a wild gorilla is about 35 years. For those in captivity, gorillas can reach their 40s and sometimes even older. The oldest documented gorilla is Fatou, who turned 69 on April 14, 2026, and lives at the Berlin Zoo in Germany. Females give birth only once every four years. Commonly, there is only one, but twins are possible. The length of time between births is part of the reason for their population being critically endangered.

Gorillas are key symbols in Africa, making appearances in artwork, stories, and books. Due to their profound size, remarkable strength, and innate intelligence, their popularity doesn’t stop in Africa but extends all over the world.

1. Gorillas live in ten African countries with tropical climates.
2. Gorillas are large mammals, though the males are twice as big as the females.
3. Gorillas can live to be 40 years or older in captivity.