What is the gorilla?

gorillas are the biggest primates today. They live throughout Africa and are divided into subspecies depending on their environmental habitats. Gorillas are considered very intelligent and studies observed their use of tools and sophisticated group dynamics.

At birth, a gorilla weighs four or five pounds (1.8-2.2 kg) and remains on her mother for about six years. Adult male gorillas usually weigh between £ 300-500 (£ 137-227) and reach a height of about five and a half to six feet (1.7-1.8 m.) Women are much smaller than males, usually weigh between £ 150-200 (68-91 kg) and rarely more than five feet (1.5 m). Gorilla color varies between subspecies, from almost black in the eastern mountain gorilla to reddish brown in the subspecies of the western lowland subspecies.

Gorillas live in family groups composed of 5-20 animals. The group leader is an adult man called Silverback, referring to Distingt Silver Patch, which appears on male gorillas after 12 years. Around the age of 11 most of the male goriShe broke away from her group and tried to attract friends to create their own family. Men younger than 12 are called blackbacks and follow the leadership of the Silverback until they decide to leave, even if they sometimes try to overthrow an older man and take over the accusations of the group. Studies show that the hostile takeover is rare and the group leadership usually only change when silver disease dies or is killed by poachers.

The gorilla diet is generally herbivorous, but sometimes they are observed that they eat small insects. They usually survive fruit, shoots of young plants and leaves. Because they have to eat constantly, Gorillas spend most of his time on the go and are looking for new food sources. Their simple diet is in direct contrast to the early display of behavior, which is indicative of the primates of them were usually wild hunters with inherent violent nature.

A study conducted in 2005 confirmed the common belief that GORily sometimes uses tools similar to chimpanzees. The female gorillas in the Congo Republic were observed by means of sticks to discover the depth of water formations and the production of raw bridges from the stump. Other gorillas were seen using rocks to break open nuts. It is assumed that the use of the instrument testifies to high intelligence and recent findings have caused some experts to reconsider their opinion on the capacity of the species.

One famous gorilla, named Koko, was able to learn the form of sign language for communication with manipulators. Experts differ in whether Koko's abilities meant that they really speak language or have learned to use it for rewards. Handlers insist that Koko invented the words herself and combines a sign he already knows for more complicated definitions. Koko is also known to keep cats like pets and express caring behavior such as cuddling and care is.

All gorilla subspecies are listed as endangered by various American and international agencies for freeIdentifying animals. The destruction of habitats and persistent poaching in gorilla shrines is considered the main contributor to the terrible situation of the species. In 2004, the population of several hundred gorilla gorillas died of the outbreak of Ebola virus. Recent studies suggest that this species may be particularly sensitive to ebola and is believed that more than 5,000 animals have died of it.

Many organizations are devoted to protecting gorillas. If you want to help try species, donations and volunteer opportunities are easily accessible. Many zoos also offer adopt-a-gorilla programs, while the proceeds will be financed by research and maintaining these giant primates.