Gorillas are large, quiet, gentle apes that live in Africa. Although gorillas are frequently portrayed as aggressive, dangerous killers, they are really shy,peaceful vegetarians. Because of massive loss of habitat, these majestic primates are in great danger of going extinct.

Gorillas have very long arms (the arms are longer than the legs), and a short, bulky body with a wide chest.

How big does this animal get?

Male gorillas are much larger than the females, and are almost twice as heavy.

Male gorillas weight around 400 lb.

Female gorillas weigh 200 lb.

Male gorillas stand around 5.6 ft.

Female gorillas stand around 4.6 ft.

Gorillas live in tropical rain forests (in the forest edges and clearings), wet lowland forests, swamps, and abandoned fields.

Gorillas are predominantly herbivores (plant eaters). They eat leaves, fruit, seeds, tree bark, plant bulbs, tender plant shoots, and flowers. Occasionally, gorillas supplement their diet with termites and ants.

Gorillas rarely drink water; the water contained in their diet is apparently enough to sustain them.

An average adult male eats approximately 50 pounds of food a day.

They forage for food in the forests during the day.

Gorillas live about 50 years in captivity; their life span in the wild is only about 35 years

Gorillas knuckle-walk using both their legs and their long arms (putting pressure on their knuckles, with the fingers rolled into the hand). Gorillas rarely walk using only their legs. They can climb trees, but do not do so very often. Gorillas cannot swim.

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