| Gorillas are large, quiet, gentle apes that can be found | | | | Mountain gorillas - A total of approximately 620 in |
| in Africa. Although gorillas are frequently portrayed as | | | | 285, and reducing all the time, square miles in the rain |
| aggressive brutes, they are really peaceful and shy. | | | | forests of Rwanda, Uganda and Zaire. |
| Due to large loss of habitat, these majestic primates | | | | Gorillas are social animals in as much as they live in |
| are in great danger of going extinct. | | | | social groups of 2 - 30, in a typical group you will find |
| There are 3 subspecies of gorillas living in parts of | | | | one dominant mature silverback and he is the leader |
| Africa. The differences between them are small, the | | | | of the group, there are three - four adult females, an |
| 3 subspecies are. | | | | immature silverback, an immature male and 3-6 |
| · Western Lowland Gorilla (gorilla gorilla) | | | | youngsters under 8 years old. |
| · Eastern Lowland Gorilla (gorilla graueri) | | | | To reduce fighting within the group the adult males |
| · Mountain Gorilla (gorilla berengei) | | | | usually leave after sexual maturity and start their |
| As with many differences between animal species | | | | own group, although from time to time a challenge is |
| the differences between the mountain and lowland | | | | made to the silverback alpha male for dominance of |
| gorilla are the result of their adaptation to the areas | | | | the group, this can lead to one of the gorillas being |
| they live in, the high altitude of the mountain gorilla | | | | driven out of the group. |
| necessitate longer body hair for added heat | | | | The gorillas only predator is humans, this should be |
| retention, higher foreheads, larger nostrils to aid | | | | good news because you would assume that we |
| breathing at high altitudes, broader chests to enclose | | | | would say to ourselves lets protect these gentle |
| the larger lungs, they also have shorter arms, | | | | creatures and help them survive but the problem is |
| shorter, wider hands and feet possibly as a result | | | | we are decimating the habitat they are living in and |
| there being less dense forest at the higher altitude. | | | | poachers are murdering them too. |
| Extensive efforts have been made to guarantee the | | | | Some forward thinking groups are attempting to help |
| survival of the gorilla in the wild but the destruction | | | | stop this, money is the main driver behind the |
| of habitat and poaching is a cause of worry, gorilla | | | | Removal of the habitats, so using the land for echo |
| numbers are only approximate but the 3 species | | | | tourism is a great way to encourage the local |
| have only 15,000 - 30,000 animals left. | | | | populations to preserve the land and animals that live |
| The breakdown between species is along the lines of | | | | on it. |
| Western gorillas- A total of approximately | | | | What eco tourism aims to do is allow people to see |
| 10,000-25,000 in Nigeria, Cameroon, Central African | | | | the gorillas and other animals in their own habitat and |
| Republic, Gabon, Congo, and Zaire. | | | | educate and inspire these people to spread the word |
| Eastern gorillas - A total of approximately 4,000, in | | | | about the amazing experience and the danger these |
| eastern Zaire. | | | | gorillas are in. |