Once they turn six months old these infants are generally able to walk on their own but still depend upon their mothers for their milk. The baby gorillas are dependent upon their mothers for up to three years and during their younger years ride on their mothers back and cling to her fur for protection. Where the mother may seem particularly large she is incredibly gentle with her tiny baby which weighs in at around four pounds. After giving birth a female will generally not become pregnant again for another four to five years. The average Western lowland gorilla produces just one baby per pregnancy however, twins occasionally make an appearance. The female does not become sexually mature until they are nine or ten years old and even then they gestate for almost nine months (another near human characteristic of these amazing creatures). The smaller family troop of Western lowland gorillas does not experience the expanded growth of some other mammals that choose to live in family groups. These threats are not limited to predators and challenges from outside gorillas however, and can also be seen when other gorillas in the troop challenge the position of the older silverbacks. The silverback Western lowland gorilla is the strongest member of his troop and will generally ensure the safety of his troop by confronting the enemy and pounding his chest, he may also charge, throw items, stand on his hind legs and roar in order to make himself even bigger and more intimidating to the predator. While they are generally sedate and nonaggressive by nature when threatened by other gorillas or by other creatures they can become particularly aggressive.
Sticking together on the move as well as when close to home ensures that the troop is safer and under the protection of the large silverback male. While the Western lowland gorilla sticks close to home while hunting, their home changes frequently in order to maintain a sufficient food supply on which the troop can feed. They have also been known to eat insects but generally stick with their vegetarian diet. The bulk of the gorilla’s diet is comprised of vegetation such as wild roots, wild celery, fruit, shoots, and tree bark and pulp. Western lowland gorillas require a lot of food to maintain their large bodies with bigger males of the troop requiring some 20 lbs of food a day. Searching for food is usually contained within the immediate area of the home base of the troop.
Collecting food is usually one of the first activities within the troop and is done shortly after sunrise when it is still cool enough to move around and search for food. The basic daily activities of the troop generally change very little and include eating, nesting and, if required, moving the home of the troop to another location. The silverback Western lowland gorilla is responsible for taking care of his troop and that includes everything from reproducing with the females of the troop to organizing basic daily activities. As the silverback ages and as the younger males grow one of them may challenge the silverback for his place as the alpha member of the pack. Within the average troop there is usually the leading silverback male, a variety of females, the children of the troop and a few young and subordinate males. The silverback gorilla can become particularly aggressive especially when challenged by other male gorillas. The dominant male is often referred to as the silverback due to the silver hair that runs down the center of his back. When in the wild the Western lowland gorilla lives in family groups which are ruled by one alpha male that oversees the entire social structure. The Western lowland is a rather isolated species of gorilla and lives throughout the rainforests and heavily wooded areas of their habitats making it particularly difficult for biologists to estimate the population of this endangered species accurately. The adult male Western lowland gorilla can stand as tall as 5 feet 7 inches and can weigh around 400 lbs and this is the smallest of the gorilla subspecies! In the wild it makes its home in a variety of African nations including Angola, Cameroon, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, the Central African Republic, the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. As a result of various factors impressing upon their homelands they are considered critically endangered. It is known for being an incredibly intelligent creature with an incredible amount of power packed into its solid body. The Western lowland gorilla is one of the most recognized wild animals around the world this incredible subspecies is native to Africa however they can be found worldwide in zoo exhibits. To keep the lights on, we receive affiliate commissions via some of our links.
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