Mountain Gorilla - Gorilla beringei beringei

[Kong1933]

 
NG Magazine
Mountain Gorilla

Gorilla beringei beringei



Male silverback mountain gorillas gain their distinctive silver tinge at about 13 years old, when they reach adulthood.

Photograph by Michael Nichols

[Kong1933]

There are roughly 700 mountain gorillas remaining on Earth, and nearly half live in the forests of the Virunga mountains in central Africa. These gorillas live on the green, volcanic slopes of Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo—areas that have seen much human violence from which the gorillas have not escaped unscathed.

Many conservation initiatives are meant to aid mountain gorillas, and it is believed that their numbers may be steady or slowly increasing. Still they continue to face major threats from habitat loss and poaching.

Mountain gorillas have longer hair and shorter arms than their lowland cousins. They also tend to be a bit larger than other gorillas.

Gorillas can climb trees, but are usually found on the ground in communities of up to 30 individuals. These troops are organized according to fascinating social structures. Troops are led by one dominant, older adult male, often called a silverback because of the swath of silver hair that adorns his otherwise dark fur. Troops also include several other young males, some females, and their offspring.

The leader organizes troop activities like eating, nesting in leaves, and moving about the group's 0.75-to-16-square-mile (2-to-40-square-kilometer) home range.

Those who challenge this alpha male are apt to be cowed by impressive shows of physical power. He may stand upright, throw things, make aggressive charges, and pound his huge chest while barking out powerful hoots or unleashing a frightening roar. Despite these displays and the animals' obvious physical power, gorillas are generally calm and nonaggressive unless they are disturbed.

In the thick forests of central and west Africa, troops find plentiful food for their vegetarian diet. They eat roots, shoots, fruit, wild celery, and tree bark and pulp.

Female gorillas give birth to one infant after a pregnancy of nearly nine months. Unlike their powerful parents, newborns are tiny—weighing four pounds (two kilograms)—and able only to cling to their mothers' fur. These infants ride on their mothers' backs from the age of four months through the first two or three years of their lives.

Young gorillas, from three to six years old, remind human observers of children. Much of their day is spent in play, climbing trees, chasing one another, and swinging from branches.

In captivity, gorillas have displayed significant intelligence and have even learned simple human sign language

[Kong1933]

Fast Facts

Type:
    Mammal   
Diet:
    Omnivore   
Average life span in the wild:
    35 years   
Size:
    Standing height, 4 to 6 ft (1.2 to 1.8 m)   
Weight:
    300 to 485 lbs (135 to 220 kg)   
Group name:
    Troop or band   
Protection status:
    Endangered   
Size relative to a 6-ft (2-m) man:

[Kong1933]

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/mountain-gorilla/

[Kong1933]

 Oldest Zoo Gorilla, Colo, Celebrates Birthday At Columbus Zoo In Ohio (PHOTO)

AP  |  Posted: 12/22/2012 8:25 pm EST  |  Updated: 12/22/2012 10:23 pm EST


Colo, the first gorilla born in a zoo, is turning 56.

[Kong1933]

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The first gorilla born in a zoo is turning 56 and celebrating her birthday with some special treats at her central Ohio home.

The Association of Zoos and Aquariums says the female western lowland gorilla named Colo is the oldest gorilla in any zoo. She was born at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in 1956.

The zoo marked Colo's birthday Saturday with a cake specially prepared for her and other gifts, including her favorite food, tomatoes. The zoo included guests in the fun by having them sing "Happy Birthday."

Colo is a mother of three. Her family tree includes more than two dozen descendants living at zoos across the country.

[Kong1933]

[Kong1933]

[Kong1933]

[Kong1933]

[Kong1933]

What a shame that this beautiful animal had to spend her entire life in captivity. I don't like zoos at all.

[Kong1933]

If anyone could be happy in a cage, with only small amounts of private time,for 56 years please raise your hand.

[Kong1933]

56 years and no parole- She didn't ask to be born where she was- No wonder she looks so sad. Very sad.