Page - January 19, 2010
Estimated Population: 94,000 - Endangered
Ways to identify this species: The hair covering all of their bodies except for their faces varies from black to grayish or brown and covers its body except on the face, the soles of hands and feet, and the upper chest. Adult males are called "Silverbacks" because they have a silver-gray color that extends down the back and upper thighs at sexual maturity.
Biology
- Two species of gorilla are now commonly recognized, roughly divided, east to west, by the gorilla's range. The western lowland gorilla is one of two subspecies of western gorillas.
- The western lowland gorilla is found in dense primary and secondary forests, lowland swamps, and montane forests within Cameroon, Republic of Congo, Gabon, Central African Republic, and Equatorial Guinea.
- Gorillas are omnivores. The lowland gorillas diet consists primarily of leaves and fruits, but also includes termites and ants..
- Gorillas form small, non-territorial families usually dominated by a single, mature male, or "silverback". The western lowland gorilla usually forms groups comprised of one silverback and 5-12 adult females. Families do not defend their home ranges, although the groups tend to avoid each other.
Threats
- The western lowland gorilla is the least endangered of all gorilla subspecies. It is nonetheless in serious decline.
- The only known predators of gorillas are humans. While hunting of gorillas is illegal, poaching is still common.
- Loss and fragmentation of habitat due to increasing human population, agricultural expansion and logging are all serious threats to the western lowland gorilla. Unsustainable logging practices not only endanger gorilla habitat, but they require the building of roads that give hunting access to poachers and spreading disease.
- Recent surveys indicate a decline of up to 56 % across their range, due to poaching and disease. In areas hard hit by the Ebola virus, over 90 percent of great apes have been killed.