There are only 5 subspecies of gorilla left in the wild. They leave behind seeds that generate new growth.

Because of new plant growth that occurs in bright sunlight, gorillas like to forage in areas cleared by elephants, storms, and even people. Like the other apes, gorillas feed on seasonal fruits and disperse seeds in their dung as they travel from region to region.

For more information about gorillas, explore the Gorilla InfoBook.

Apes have a larger brain relative to the body size than other primates do. Apes rely more on vision than on smell and have a short broad nose rather than a snout, as Old World monkeys do. They have a more upright body posture as well. Apes do not have a tail and are generally larger than most other primates.

The differences between monkeys and apes are easy to see once you know what to look for.

During the early weeks, a newborn gorilla is clutched belly-to-belly (ventral) for close contact until it develops the strength and coordination to cling onto its mother's back (dorsal) hair at about two months.

The huge silverback is a tolerant father who baby-sits for his offspring so the females can forage without the hindrance of playful young.

Wild gorillas are difficult to study because they are shy, secretive inhabitants of densely vegetated tropical forests.

However, it is also used in play as well.

The intimidating chest-beating charge of a male gorilla is usually a bluff to scare off intruders while the rest of his band disappears into the forest.

Range African countries of Cameroon, Peoples Republic of Congo, Gabon, Central African Republic, and Equatorial Guinea Habitat Tropical forests, swamp forests, clearings and forest edges Population Global: Unknown Status IUCN: Not listed Some western lowland gorillas survive in the far west of DRC in the beautiful Madiakoko Mountains, Bas-Congo, crossing back and forth from Cabinda (Angola), but you’d be a pioneer tourist here.Female: 6.5 years Life Span 40 years in zoological setting wild studies of longevity have only been going on for 10 years, so far life span is inconclusive. Take advice on the spot – it can change from one week to the next.

However, even during the troubles many people visited the gorillas at Djomba on day trips from Kisoro, Uganda, because permits were available in the DRC and sold out in Uganda. Things have improved since the early 2009 arrest of rebel leader Nkunda, but the area is still unsettled. Mountain gorilla tourism in Virunga National Park is also excellent, if security allows. Bukavu is the nearest town (with some beautiful lakeside hotels), but check the security situation if entering DRC from Rwanda. Gorilla tourism with habituated groups began here in the mid-1970s, in Kahuzi-Biega National Park, a stronghold of eastern lowland gorillas, and this park still offers one of the best gorilla-viewing experiences. Three of the four sub-species are found in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Visitor infrastructure: 1/5 (western lowland gorillas), 3/5 (eastern lowland gorillas and mountain gorillas)Ĭhance of sighting (security permitting): 1/5 (western lowland gorillas), 3/5 (eastern lowland gorillas), 5/5 (mountain gorillas) One of Uganda’s real plus points is the range of other activities on offer: combine your gorilla tracking with the country’s other national parks and adventurous activities, from hiking the glaciers in the Rwenzori Mountains to white-water rafting on the Nile. Some taxonomists regard the Bwindi gorillas as a separate sub-species of eastern gorilla – the lack of hair on their brow easily distinguishes them from their shaggier Virunga cousins. It has four groups well-habituated for tourism, and two more are being habituated to cope with demand. Just to the north, on dramatically winding roads, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is more biodiverse and at a lower altitude. However, climbing to the top of Mt Sabinio, where Rwanda, Uganda and DRC meet, is an outstanding way to see the whole mountain gorilla kingdom – an island of forest surrounded by a sea of densely populated farmland. Mgahinga National Park is part of the tri-national Virunga Conservation Area, and its habituated gorillas often cross into the Democratic Republic of Congo. Second in popularity to Rwanda, the two gorilla parks in the south-west of the country offer different experiences.

Western lowland gorilla kingdom