Wildlife
Western gorillas are easily distinguishable from their eastern cousins, since they are smaller and lighter-bodied. This allows them to be agile climbers and therefore excellent at gathering fruit. There are two subspecies of western gorilla: the widespread lowland gorilla and the rarer cross river gorilla. Both subspecies are sociable and live in groups. Sadly, gorilla numbers have plummeted in recent years, mainly through habitat loss, although between 1992 and 2007 the deadly ebola virus killed one third of the entire population.
Did you know?
Adult males are known as 'silverbacks' due to the silvery-white hair extending down their backs.
Scientific name: Gorilla gorilla
Rank: Species
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Gorilla birth
The first gorilla to be born at London Zoo for 23 years.
The first gorilla to be born at London Zoo for 23 years.
Saving gorillas
Will Young's personal report on gorilla challenges: bushmeat, the pet trade and Ebola.
Estimates of the population size of western gorillas vary at between 90,000 to 110,000 individuals. Exact data is difficult to establish owing to the nature of their tropical forest home, but many believe these estimates are exaggerated. Gorillas face several problems: the loss and degradation of the forests for logging and agriculture; the demand for meat in a growing urban market - with gorilla prized as a symbol of prestige - and most dramatically the devastation caused by the Ebola virus. Since 1995, a conservative estimate suggests that one third of the total gorilla population may have died from Ebola alone, and it continues to spread.
Forest fruits
Elephants aren't too keen to share with their gorilla neighbours.
Elephants aren't too keen to share with their gorilla neighbours.
Gorilla display
The awesome chest-beating vibrations of a silverback gorilla filmed close up.
The awesome chest-beating vibrations of a silverback gorilla filmed close up.
Species range provided by WWF's Wildfinder.
The Western gorilla can be found in a number of locations including: Africa. Find out more about these places and what else lives there.
The following habitats are found across the Western gorilla distribution range. Find out more about these environments, what it takes to live there and what else inhabits them.
RainforestDiscover what these behaviours are and how different plants and animals use them.
Additional data source: Animal Diversity Web
Critically Endangered
Population trend: Decreasing
Year assessed: 2008
Classified by: IUCN 3.1
The western gorilla (Gorilla gorilla) is a great ape and the most populous species of the genus Gorilla.
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Learning
Predation defence
Adapted to climbing
Hierarchical
Tactile sense
Acoustic communication
Herbivorous
Maternal care
Polygynous
Social
Chemical communication
Sexual dimorphism
Visual communication
Viviparous