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Gorilla
These wonderful creatures who man has driven to the brink on extinction by shear insanity. They have been hunted for sport.
Their feet and hands have been severed from their bodies because some cultures think they contain strange powers. How can we humans be so very insensitive to these wonderful creatures? Have we advanced so far just to become more of a "savage" than these simple animals. To look deep within their eyes and see the intelligence that lies within shows us perhaps a glimpse of where our hearts were in a much simplier time.
Gorillas; There are three subspecies of gorillas living in different parts of Africa. Western Lowland - Gorilla gorilla gorilla Eastern Lowland - Gorilla gorilla graueri Mountain Gorilla gorilla berengei
A gorilla family usually includes one silverback, the strongest male and the undisputed leader, one immature male between 8 and 13 years old, three or four adult females, who stay with the silverback for life, and three to six youngsters under eight years old. Some groups are larger or smaller. Males sometimes travel alone or form bachelor groups.
The mountain gorilla's diet consists of leaves, coarse stems, bark, roots, vines, bamboo, wild cherry, thistles and nettles, and when food is scarce, insects, snails and slugs.
Western lowland gorillas eat more fruit than the other subspecies; it is readily available within the lower elevations of their range. They are selective feeders that utilize the fruits, stems, flowers, shoots, bulbs, bark, leaves, and pith of over 200 plant species.
Facial expressions for communicating include a play face, lip-tucking (tension), protruding tongue (uncertainty or concentration), and yawning (stress).
Gorillas live about 35 years in the wild and more than 50 years in a zoological environment. The mortality rate for immature gorillas under six years of age is over 40% and the risks are highest during the first year. Fighting silverbacks, predation, injury, and disease are all serious threats to youngsters that lessen as the apes reach maturity. However, the risks continue throughout life.
Gorillas produce more than 15 recognized vocalizations. Some sounds are used mainly for group communication because gorillas are nearly invisible to each other while feeding and traveling in the vegetation. Gorillas have never been observed hunting or feeding on any animals other than invertebrates such as termites and ants.Deep belches are common during feeding and suggest contentment. Pig-like grunts are used to establish right-of-way during foraging and to settle squabbles. Male gorillas roar and growl during aggressive behaviors. Silverbacks vocalize the most.
Fewer than 650 mountain gorillas and 40,000 lowland gorillas are left in the world. Their existence continues to be threatened as increasing human populations continue to decrease the gorillas' habitats. Gentle and intelligent creatures, gorillas are more closely-related to humankind than many would expect.
