#silverback western gorilla

[zootoo]

Silverback Western Lowland Gorilla Port Lympne 181219a by John Higgins Via Flickr: Western Lowland Gorilla Silverback Male. Today is World Gorilla Day. Incredible creatures that I highly doubt I will ever be lucky enough to see in the wild. They are very intimidating up close, awesome animals, especially the Silverbacks. They just look powerful.

[theonion]

Observing the 300-pound captive ape from the other side of his enclosure, Lincoln Park Zoo guests expressed empathy this week for western lowland gorilla Nzinga, who looked bored out of his mind reading Wuthering Heights. Concerned visitors reported seeing the 26-year-old silverback resting his head on his hairy fist as he stared down at the pages of the classic tale about social class, passion, and revenge, which, with the exception of a few plants and rocks, was seemingly the only enrichment item within the exhibit at his disposal. According to sources, Nzinga’s posture slumped lower and lower throughout the afternoon as he plodded through the turgid prose of the 1847 gothic novel by Emily Brontë. “Poor thing. Imagine being forced to sit in a cage all day with nothing to do but read about Heathcliff pacing around a mansion and growing bitter with resentment through the years,” said 43-year-old Elmhurst, IL resident Angela Kreusler, who sighed and shook her head as she watched the great ape fidget with the corner of a page. “It’s such a shame. Gorillas need constant stimulus. You can tell he’s not engaged. Just look at the way he yawns every time he turns a page.” Full Story

[whereifindsanity]

Silverback Western lowland gorilla. Photo: Vincent Lagrange

[markhors-menagerie]

Western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla)

These huge, powerful apes are found in the lowland tropical forests of Western Africa. They are highly sexually dimorphic, and dominant males are often called silverbacks for their light grey backs. They eat leaves, fruits, roots, tree bark, and occasionally small animals. They are also known to use tools, and famously Koko the gorilla was said to have been able to communicate using sign language, although the extent to which she understood has since been questioned and debunked by many scientists.

[zerogate]

Dian Fossey, who devoted nineteen years to living among and observing the mountain gorillas of central Africa’s Virunga Mountains, felt these creatures were among the most peaceful on earth. Yet mountain gorillas become killers when their social groups come face-to-face. Clashes between social units, said Fossey, account for 62 percent of the wounds on gorillas. Seventy-four percent of the males Fossey observed carried the scars of battle, and 80 percent had canine teeth they’d lost or broken while trying to bite the opposition. Fossey actually recovered skulls with canine cusps still embedded in their crests.

One gorilla group will deliberately seek out another and provoke a conflict. The resulting battles between gorilla tribes are furious. One of the bands that Fossey followed was led by a powerful silverback, an enormous male who left a skirmish with his flesh so badly ripped that the head of an arm bone and numerous ligaments stuck out through the broken skin. The old ruling male, whom Fossey called Beethoven, had been supported in the fight by his son, Icarus. Icarus left the battle scene with eight massive wounds where the enemy had bitten him on the head and arms. The site where the conflict had raged was covered with blood, tufts of fur, broken saplings, and diarrhetic dung. Such is the price of prehuman war in the Virunga Mountains.

Gorillas are not the only subhumans to cluster in groups that set off to search for blood. By the early seventies, Jane Goodall had lived fourteen years among the wild chimpanzees of Tanzania’s Gombe Reserve. She loved the chimps for their gentle ways, so different from the violence back home among humans. Yes, there were simian muggings, beatings, and rage, but the ultimate horror—war—was absent.

Goodall published a landmark book on chimpanzee behavior—In the Shadow of Man—a work that to some proved unequivocally that war was a human creation. After all, the creatures shown by genetic and immunological research to be our nearest cousins in the animal kingdom knew nothing of organized, wholesale violence.

Then, three years after Goodall’s book was printed, a series of incidents occurred that horrified her. The tribe of chimps Goodall had been watching became quite large. Food was harder to find. Quarrels broke out. To relieve the pressure, the unit finally split into two separate tribes. One band stayed in the old home territory. The other left to carve out a new life in the forest to the south.

At first, the two groups lived in relative peace. Then the males from the larger band began to make trips south to the patch of land occupied by the splinter unit. The marauders’ purpose was simple: to harass and ultimately kill the separatists. They beat their former friends mercilessly, breaking bones, opening massive wounds, and leaving the resultant cripples to die a slow and lingering death. When the raids were over, five males and one elderly female had been murdered. The separatist group had been destroyed; and its sexually active females and part of its territory had been annexed by the males of the band from the home turf. Goodall had discovered war among the chimpanzees, a discovery she had hoped she would never make.

Years later, biological ecologist Michael Ghiglieri traveled to Uganda to see just how widespread chimpanzee warfare really is. He concluded that “the happy-go-lucky chimpanzee has turned out to be the most lethal ape—an organized, cooperative warrior.”

So the tendency toward slaughter that manifested itself in the Chinese Cultural Revolution is not the product of agriculture, technology, television, or materialism. It is not an invention of either Western or Eastern civilization. It is not a uniquely human proclivity at all. It comes from something both sub- and superhuman, something we share with apes, fish, and ants—a brutality that speaks to us through the animals in our brain. If man has contributed anything of his own to the equation, it is this: He has learned to dream of peace. But to achieve that dream, he will have to overcome what nature has built into him.

-- Howard Bloom, The Lucifer Principle: A Scientific Expedition into the Forces of History

[theworldismyoysterandiamthepearl]

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A post shared by Milwaukee County Zoo (@milwaukeecozoo)

Meet Azizi! This intelligent and impressive gorilla is here to be the silverback leader of Dotty and Nadami as part of AZA's Western Lowland Gorilla Species Survival Plan® (SSP).

from https://www.instagram.com/milwaukeecozoo/

[shoechoe]

The discord orangutan emoji is good but I think I would make a few adjustments. For a start there should be three separate emojis for each orangutan species (a Bornean orangutan which is larger and has browner hair, a Sumatran orangutan with a smaller body and more vibrant orange/red hair, and a Tapanuli orangutan with a different face shape and frizzier hair) and there should also be flanged and unflanged versions as well as baby/juvenile versions. There should also be 4 different gorilla emojis for each of the gorilla species (Eastern lowland, mountain, western lowland, cross river) as well as silverback and non-silverback variants. Also there should be chimpanzee emojis and bonobo emojis as well as an emoji for each of the ~600 primate species discord please take my advice thank you very much

[bignosebaby]

What does a doctors appointment look like for a silverback gorilla?

Koga, a 35 year old western lowland gorilla at New York's Buffalo Zoo undergoes a health exam every other year. At around 400 pounds, this is no small task. A whole team of veterinary professionals check his heart, teeth, eyes, joints and muscles for signs of illness. Multiple exams are performed simultaneously to minimize the amount of time Koga is anesthetized and get him back with his troupe as soon as possible.

Koga is described as being a very good father who loves playing with his kids. Medical exams like this one are what allow gorillas in captivity to live the longest of their natural lifespans, and Koga's vets are dedicated to keeping him healthy and with his family for as long as possible.

[primate-tournament]

Round 2, match 15: African apes

Western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla)

These huge, powerful apes are found in the lowland tropical forests of Western Africa. They are highly sexually dimorphic, and dominant males are often called silverbacks for their light grey backs. They eat leaves, fruits, roots, tree bark, and occasionally small animals. They are also known to use tools, and famously Koko the gorilla was apparently able to communicate using sign language, although the extent to which she understood has been questioned by many scientists. I chose to use this subspecies because their full scientific name (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) is funny to me.

Bonobo (Pan paniscus)

Once known as the pygmy chimpanzee, the bonobo is now recognised as a separate species. They live in tropical forests south of the Congo River, and eat fruit, leaves, honey, and small animals like insects and mammals. They are very social and less violent than chimpanzees. They’re also really horny, like all the time. They’re the only non-human species known to engage in tongue kissing and face-to-face sex, because of course they are. And as expected from a species whose sex lives have been studied as much as they have, both male-male and female-female relations have been documented.

[pleistocene-pride]

Gorilla Gorilla Gorilla, better known as the western lowland gorilla is one of two subspecies which along with the cross river gorilla make up the western gorilla species: Gorilla Gorilla. Western lowland gorillas are endemic to the central African countries of Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. Here they inhabit montane, primary and secondary forest as well as lowland swampland. These are highly social primates living in groups called troops which contain anywhere from 4 to 30 members, typically comprised of females, there young, and various adolescences. Said troops are typically lead by an older dominate male known as a silver back, some troops may be joint ruled by multiple silver backs which are typically brothers or fathers and sons. While capable of climbing, because of there size these apes tend to spend much of there time on the ground. By day they travel and forage for food in the form of roots, shoots, fruit, leaves, herbs, sap, tree bark, pulp, and insects. At night they build nests out of leaves and grasses either on the ground or in low branches where they will sleep. Lowland gorillas are occasionally preyed upon by leopards and crocodiles, additionally particularly aggressive troops of chimpanzees are known to attack and kill many a gorilla. With females reaching on average 4’5ft (1.4m) tall and 150 to 250lbs (68 to 113kgs) in weight and males reaching up to 6ft (1.8m) tall and 300 to 600lbs (136 to 272kgs) in weight, the western lowland gorilla is on average the smallest gorilla subspecies. They sport long arms, large hands, wide jaws, prominent brow ridges, large nostrils and small eyes and ears. They possess no tails and have jet black skin along with coarse black hair that covers their entire body except for the face, ears, hands and feet. The hair on the back and rump of males takes on a grey coloration and is also lost as they get older. This coloration is the reason why older males are known as "silverbacks". Breeding may occur year round, and after a 8.5 month pregnancy a female western lowland gorilla will give birth to a single infant. Said young will remain by there mothers side for up to 5 years. These gorillas typically reach sexual maturity at around 8 years old, at which point they typically leave there birth troop. Females often joining other traditional troops whilst males travel alone or form all male bachelor groups. The later may become a traditional troop should females chose to join them. Under ideal conditions a western lowland gorilla may live up to 50 years.

[terry-animal-of-the-day]

Animal of the Day for December 15: Western Lowland Gorilla (Species Gorilla gorilla gorilla)

Western Lowland Gorillas are one of the largest extant primates, and being only slightly smaller than their close relative the Eastern Gorilla (which is the largest extant primate). A Silverback is a mature male Gorilla, who is often the leader of his troop and father of all of the offspring. Gorillas are territorial and the presence of another troop will typically lead to conflict, in which the two groups' leaders will confront one another. These fights consist mostly of intimidation tactics and often end with one or both Silverbacks doing a mock charge before both back down and agree to stick with their own respective territories.

[kibokotourstravellimited]

Everything You Need to Know About Gorillas: Africa’s Gentle Giants

Gorillas, Africa’s majestic and gentle giants, have captured the fascination of people worldwide. Sharing about 98% of our DNA, these remarkable creatures are among our closest relatives. This guide dives deep into the world of gorillas, revealing fascinating facts and lesser-known details about their lives and highlighting why gorilla trekking should be on your bucket list.

Found Only in Africa

Gorillas are exclusively native to the forests of central Sub-Saharan Africa. They thrive in a variety of habitats, from lowland swamps and rainforests to high-altitude forests, playing a crucial role in maintaining their ecosystems despite their limited range.

Belonging to the Hominidae family, gorillas share genetic ties with humans and chimpanzees. They are classified into two main species, further divided into four subspecies with distinct characteristics and habitats.

Eastern Gorilla

Mountain Gorillas: Found in the Virunga Mountains (Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo) and Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Known for their thick fur suited to cold climates, around 1,063 mountain gorillas remain in the wild.

Eastern Lowland Gorillas: Reside in the tropical lowland forests of eastern DRC. Larger than their mountain counterparts, their population is estimated at approximately 3,800.

Western Gorilla

Western Lowland Gorillas: Inhabit the dense rainforests and swamps of Central and West Africa, including Gabon, Congo, and Cameroon. Despite being the most numerous subspecies with about 100,000 individuals, their numbers are rapidly declining due to poaching and disease.

Cross River Gorillas: Found in a small region between Nigeria and Cameroon, this critically endangered subspecies has fewer than 300 individuals remaining.

A Brief History of Gorillas in Western Documentation

While indigenous African communities have always known about gorillas, they were introduced to Western science in 1847 when American missionary Thomas Staughton Savage and naturalist Jeffries Wyman provided the first scientific description based on skull and bone fragments. This sparked European interest, further fueled by explorer Paul Du Chaillu’s vivid accounts from Gabon in the 1850s.

Social Structure and Behavior

Gorillas live in groups called troops, typically comprising 5–30 members, led by a dominant silverback. Each member has a defined role:

Silverback: The leader and protector, characterized by the silver streak of hair on his back, weighs up to 450 pounds and stands about 6’4” tall.

Blackbacks: Younger males, aged 8–12, who assist the silverback and compete for dominance as they mature.

Females: Responsible for nurturing young, forming strong bonds with the silverback and other females.

Juveniles and Infants: Learn essential skills and social behaviors under the care of their mothers and the troop.

Reproduction

Reproduction is typically controlled by the dominant silverback, with females initiating mating during their estrous cycle. Gestation lasts about 8.5 months, usually resulting in a single infant. Female gorillas give birth every 4–6 years, making population recovery slow. Infants remain dependent on their mothers for years, learning critical survival skills.

Fascinating Facts About Gorillas

Tool Use: Gorillas use tools like sticks to measure water depth and gather food, showcasing remarkable intelligence.

DNA Similarity: Sharing 98% of their DNA with humans, they display complex emotions and behaviors akin to ours.

Communication: Gorillas use over 20 vocalizations, including grunts, hoots, and even laughter, to communicate.

Mourning Rituals: They mourn the loss of troop members, displaying grief through behaviors like staying close to the deceased.

Diet: Predominantly herbivorous, they occasionally eat insects and consume up to 40 pounds of food daily.

Conservation Status

Gorillas face severe threats, including habitat destruction, poaching, and diseases like Ebola. Conservation organizations such as the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund and Gorilla Doctors work tirelessly to protect them through anti-poaching patrols, community education, and veterinary care.

Gorilla Trekking: A Life-Changing Experience

Embarking on a gorilla trek offers an unparalleled opportunity to observe these magnificent animals in their natural habitat while supporting conservation efforts.

Preparation: Trekking requires physical fitness, proper gear, and readiness for rugged terrain.

Guided Experience: Expert guides ensure both your safety and the gorillas’ well-being, providing deep insights into their lives.

Essential Gear: Sturdy hiking boots, breathable clothing, waterproof gear, insect repellent, snacks, and a quiet camera are must-haves.

Gorillas are more than an awe-inspiring attraction; they are a vital part of Africa’s natural heritage. By understanding their behavior and challenges, we can contribute to their conservation. Kiboko Tours & Travel Limited, we are committed to promoting responsible tourism that supports these gentle giants.

For an unforgettable gorilla trekking experience, contact Kiboko Tours & Travel Limited. Let us guide you on a journey where adventure meets conservation.

[factsfair]

Fun Facts About the Gorilla Especially the Number 3

Fun facts about the gorilla show that these amazing animals are more than just strong apes.

Scientists and animal lovers have been attracted by gorillas for a long time due to their complex social structures, advanced communication abilities, exceptional intelligence, and deep emotional range.

Let’s look at some of the most exciting and unexpected fun facts about the gorilla.

Fun Facts About the Gorilla

The Largest Primate

The largest primates on Earth are gorillas; adult males, referred to as silverbacks, can weigh up to 400 pounds. When standing on their hind legs, these gentle giants reach heights of 5 to 6 feet, giving them an impressive presence in their natural environments. Gorillas are noted for their kind nature and rarely show aggressive behavior unless they feel threatened, despite their large weight.

Different Species of Gorillas

The eastern and western gorillas are the two primary species of gorillas, and each has its own subspecies. Mountain and eastern lowland gorillas are included in the eastern gorilla group, whereas Cross River and western lowland gorillas are included in the western gorilla group. Every subspecies is separate from the others and lives a different area of Africa.

A Vegetarian Diet

Another fun facts about the gorilla mostly vegetarians even with their huge size; they eat a diet high in fruits, leaves, and stems. They spend a large amount of their day searching for food, which gives them the nutrition they need to stay strong and healthy. They may occasionally eat small insects, but the majority of their diet consists of plant-based nutrients.

Complex Social Structures

Gorillas live in troop or band formations, usually headed by a strong silverback that sets group policy. Every troop member has a unique role in these complex social systems. The gang is led by the silverback, who also keeps them safe from harm. The female is in charge of raising the young, and the younger males and females help out with different tasks.

Communication Skills

Gorillas use a complex set of body language, facial gestures, and vocalizations to communicate. They communicate by a range of sounds, including as hoots, barks, and grunts and roars. Also, their body language like banging the ground or hammering their chest helps to show dominance or indicate alarm. These fun facts about the gorilla interactions also benefit greatly from their expressive faces.

Tool Use in the Wild

Do you know the best fun facts about the gorilla are that some gorillas have been seen showing their capacity for problem-solving by building bridges and determining the level of water with sticks? Their intelligence and adaptability qualities are frequently linked to higher cognitive functions that are proven by their behavior. These examples of gorilla tool use offer important new perspectives on the cognitive capacities and imagination of gorillas.

Conservation Status

Because of habitat loss, poaching, and sickness, gorillas are extremely in danger, and conservation efforts are essential to their survival. Worldwide organizations dedicate their all to preserving gorilla habitats, preventing poaching, and raising public awareness of the issue to safeguard gorilla populations. Our amazing species' survival depends on ongoing and expanded conservation efforts.

Read: What Are Some Fun Finance Facts for Kids?

Lifespan and Reproduction

In the wild, gorillas can live up to 35–40 years, during which time their female counterparts give birth to one child every 4 to 6 years. For several years, gorilla moms tend to their young, teaching them necessary survival skills through play and observation. Because gorillas reproduce slowly, the stability and growth of the population depend on each birth.

Famous Gorillas in History

Some gorillas have gained fame throughout history; one such gorilla was Koko, who was well-known for her proficiency in sign language. Koko's extraordinary language abilities raised awareness of gorilla intelligence and emotional complexity on a global scale. Our curiosity about gorillas has also been influenced by other well-known gorillas, like Dian Fossey's guerrilla soldiers or the movie King Kong.

Gorillas in Popular Culture

In popular culture, gorillas have been featured in many films, literature, and even as mascots for different causes. People across the world have been attracted to gorillas, from the legendary King Kong to the adored Harambe. Their power, intelligence, and the necessity of their protection are frequently highlighted by the media's portrayal of them.

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[verdorosafari]

Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable and Volcanoes National Park

This epic tour offers the opportunity to follow both mountain and western lowland gorillas on six consecutive Best gorilla safari in uganda expeditions, making it the preferred safari for primate fans. This ultimate gorilla safari is designed for the ultimate gorilla aficionado, with no less than six opportunities to see the creatures firsthand. Spending time with these friendly primates is an unforgettable experience; pay particular attention to the play of light and shadow amid the foliage, and see how the gorillas interact with one another, from the tiny infant to the powerful silverback. Take your camera, batteries, and equipment, but try to immerse yourself in your surroundings and interact with our clever primate cousins as they go about their daily lives within meters away. It is wonderful to watch a gorilla through a lens, but a true feeling of your position in the world is achieved by looking into one's own eyes.

Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park

Some of the world's few remaining mountain gorillas are found in the Volcanoes National Park. It is a true island in the sky. These continued through the 1960s by Dian Fossey and associates after being originally researched here in 1959 by George Schaller. Gorillas are far from domesticated and are entirely wild animals. However, expert guides will join you on your Best gorilla safari in uganda, many of whom have gone through the habituation process. The guides will utilize their knowledge of the gorillas' routines and the previous day's information to find the group's whereabouts. An early start to get to the park headquarters, where you'll be given a ranger and a troop of gorillas. Tracking gorillas may take anywhere from four to eight hours across hilly, muddy, and lush green terrain. It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It is quite breathtaking to see these friendly primates in their natural habitat. You watch them playing, grooming, and eating!

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

A global population of only 1,000 has the mountain gorillas of Bwindi as a significant part. The gorillas you are following are from one of these habituated family groups. For up to five years apiece, these groups have gone through an exceedingly delicate procedure that has progressively taught them to tolerate the presence of people for a small amount of time each day, enabling a few privileged visitors to engage with them. The gorillas are not domesticated and are entirely wild. Experienced advisers will accompany you, many of whom have been through the habituation process themselves. The guides will utilize their knowledge of the gorillas' routines and the previous day's information to find the group's whereabouts. As a result, the Best gorilla safari in uganda can take anything from half an hour to nine hours. Ideally, spend as little time as possible behind your camera lens to properly appreciate this incredible experience.