Apperance
hey are stocky animals covered in black fur with broad chests and shoulders, large hands and forearms much shorter than their upper arm.
Their face is black and hairless, with small eyes that are close together and large, prominent nostrils.Adult males weigh up to 200kg, with females around half this size. They can reach a height of 1.2-1.7 meters when standing on 2 feet.
Their face is black and hairless, with small eyes that are close together and large, prominent nostrils.Adult males weigh up to 200kg, with females around half this size. They can reach a height of 1.2-1.7 meters when standing on 2 feet.
Habitat
Tropical, subtropical forests and low lying scrubs in eastern Congo
BEHAVIORS
They live in groups called a troop, which is made up of 2- 40 gorillas. Within this group there is one dominant male several females and younger males as well as offspring of many different ages.
All females in the troop have a strong relationship with the dominant male, which can be strengthened through activities like grooming. However males and females are often aggressive to each other, although it rarely results in death.
Relationships between females are weak and fighting often occurs over males.
Relationships between males are not strong because of Alfa-male issues, however within all male groups individuals are friendlier with each other.
Gorillas are tolerant of other species and would only attack if they felt threatened.
They are wary of humans and it takes a long time to build their trust.
They walk around 1 km every day looking for food.
Gorillas wake up early between 6 and 8 and spend the day eating and playing and relaxing.
Every night between at sunset they build a bowl shaped nest of leaves to sleep in
All females in the troop have a strong relationship with the dominant male, which can be strengthened through activities like grooming. However males and females are often aggressive to each other, although it rarely results in death.
Relationships between females are weak and fighting often occurs over males.
Relationships between males are not strong because of Alfa-male issues, however within all male groups individuals are friendlier with each other.
Gorillas are tolerant of other species and would only attack if they felt threatened.
They are wary of humans and it takes a long time to build their trust.
They walk around 1 km every day looking for food.
Gorillas wake up early between 6 and 8 and spend the day eating and playing and relaxing.
Every night between at sunset they build a bowl shaped nest of leaves to sleep in
Cause
The causes of gorillas deaths are;
Bushmeat trade – killed and sold as meat
Habitat loss – forests destroyed due to commercial logging and agriculture
Civil War – war forced people into gorilla habitats and with limited food they have to hunt bushmeat
Disease – can be passed through contact with humans and our effects on their natural habitats
Pets – pretty self-explanatory
Souvenirs – hands, feet, skulls and other parts of gorillas are taken and used for souvenirs and medicinal uses
Bushmeat trade – killed and sold as meat
Habitat loss – forests destroyed due to commercial logging and agriculture
Civil War – war forced people into gorilla habitats and with limited food they have to hunt bushmeat
Disease – can be passed through contact with humans and our effects on their natural habitats
Pets – pretty self-explanatory
Souvenirs – hands, feet, skulls and other parts of gorillas are taken and used for souvenirs and medicinal uses
Action
The WWF is:
Improving the effectiveness of protected areas.
Stopping the illegal trade in gorilla products. For example, they are funding and equipping anti-poaching patrols of the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN) in war-torn DRC.
Increasing support for gorilla conservation among both local and international communities
Improving the effectiveness of protected areas.
Stopping the illegal trade in gorilla products. For example, they are funding and equipping anti-poaching patrols of the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN) in war-torn DRC.
Increasing support for gorilla conservation among both local and international communities
bibliography
"Gorillas." WWF. WWF, n.d. Web. 31 July 2014. <http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/endangered_species/great_apes/gorillas/>.
"Introduction." Endangered Species International. Endangered Species International, n.d. Web. 31 July 2014. <http://www.endangeredspeciesinternational.org/gorillas.html>.
"Diseases." Endangered Species International. Endangered Species International, n.d. Web. 31 July 2014. <http://www.endangeredspeciesinternational.org/gorillas4.html>.
"Gorillas." WWF. WWF, n.d. Web. 1 Aug. 2014. <http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/endangered_species/great_apes/gorillas>.
"Introduction." Endangered Species International. Endangered Species International, n.d. Web. 31 July 2014. <http://www.endangeredspeciesinternational.org/gorillas.html>.
"Diseases." Endangered Species International. Endangered Species International, n.d. Web. 31 July 2014. <http://www.endangeredspeciesinternational.org/gorillas4.html>.
"Gorillas." WWF. WWF, n.d. Web. 1 Aug. 2014. <http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/endangered_species/great_apes/gorillas>.