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Find out about lots of other animals in the WWF WebbliZone.
Mountain Gorillas
Hello, explorers! Wez, here. I love mountain gorillas - they're so peaceful, so strong and so gentle, too. They live in just one group of mountains called the Virunga in Africa. These mountains border three countries - Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. I asked my fave conservation boffins, WWF, to tell me all about them.
Along with African Wildlife foundation, Flora and Fauna International and the park authorities of Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, WWF forms the the Internationl Mountain Gorilla Conservation Programme (IGCP) and carries out invaluable work across this region.
SO, WHAT'S THE LOWDOWN ON THESE AMAZING APES?
Mountain gorillas are the largest of all the great apes. (The others are chimpanzees, orangutans and bonobos.) Like all the great apes, they're very closely related to you humans (not to us Webblis - I think our ancestors were a bit more square-shaped!) Infact, humans and apes are 98% genetically identical. That means only 2% of your genes are stopping you from being a gorilla!
Despite being hunted by poachers, captured as pets (how cruel is that?!) and living in countries that are often at war, there are still around 700 left in the wild. That's mostly because brill people like WWF have been working hard to save them.
WHY ARE THEY SO FURRY?
Mountain gorillas are furrier than lowland gorillas because their habitat is often very cold and rainy. The fur keeps them snuggly and warm, whatever the weather.
WHAT DO THEY EAT?
Male gorillas can munch through a staggering 37kg of food a day and the females eat around 20kg. About 85% of that is just plants. So, your Mum's not kidding when she says you'll grow up big and strong if you eat your greens!
ARE THEY DANGEROUS TO HUMANS?
Not if they're left to themselves. In an ideal world they would lead a quiet life and disturb no one. But, the enormous silverback males (they're called silverbacks because they grow silver fur on their backs) can get a bit cross if they think their family is under threat. Infact, they will lay down their lives to protect their family, just as any parent would.
Mostly, they're rather gentle and shy. They live in family groups of up to 11 individuals, although the usual number is between 4 and 7. Each group is led by a silverback who keeps them in order and decides where they should forage, rest and sleep. He also sorts out any argy-bargy between other group members.
HOW LONG DO THEY LIVE?
Mountain gorillas can live for up to 50 years or so. The females are able to give birth from about the age of 10. They produce a tiny, single baby that weighs only about 4 pounds! That's about half the size of an average human baby. But, they develop much quicker than humans and can fend for themselves by 3.5 years of age.
WHY ARE THEY ENDANGERED?
As with so many of our wonderful animals, the greatest threat to these gorillas is mankind. They share their forest with many people who chop it down so they can grow food. Life is not easy for these people, they want to take care of their families. But, sadly it means that there is less and less forest for the gorillas. Also, the gorillas are sometimes shot or captured as pets. And, living so close to humans means they can catch our diseases. Gorillas' immune systems aren't built to cope with human illnesses. In fact, a simple cold can kill a gorilla.
WWF are conservation heroes. As part of the International Gorilla Conservation Programme, they have worked tirelessly with local people and governments to help save these gorillas.
Click here if you would like to help the WWF to protect these gentle giants.
Wez sez: Maybe if we all lived as peacefully as mountain gorillas, the world would be a happier place.