What do gorillas eat? And other gorilla facts

Gorillas, the largest living primates, make their homes in central and east Africa. They function in a well-developed social structure and often exhibit behavior and emotions similar to the human experience, including laughter and sadness. Habitat destruction, disease, and poaching remain threats to gorillas. WWF is working to increase protection across their range, both within and outside officially designated protected areas, such as in the Republic of Congo, and to promote responsible gorilla tourism.

Read on for some common questions about gorillas.

What do gorillas eat?

Gorillas stick to a mainly vegetarian diet, feeding on stems, bamboo shoots and fruits. Western lowland gorillas, however, also have an appetite for termites and ants, and break open termite nests to eat the larvae.

Do gorillas live alone?

Gorillas move around in family groups that can range from a couple of individuals to more than 40 members. A dominant male leads and holds the position for years.

How closely related to gorillas are humans?

Charismatic and intelligent animals, gorillas share 98.3% of their DNA with humans. They are our closest cousins after chimpanzees and bonobos.

What threats do gorillas face?

Poaching, diseases such as Ebola, and habitat destruction threaten the four gorilla subspecies; most gorillas live outside of protected areas. WWF works to designate new gorilla sanctuaries, such as in Congo.

How big do gorillas get?

Adult male gorillas weigh up to 440 pounds and can reach a height of six feet when standing on two legs. Mature male gorillas are known as “silverbacks” for the white hair that develops on their back at about 14 years of age.

How often do gorillas give birth?

Females have a gestation period of 8.5 months and nurture their young for several years. Generally, females give birth to one baby every four to six years. This slow population growth makes it harder for gorillas to recover from any population decline.

Does wildlife crime affect gorillas?

While poaching of gorillas for food is uncommon, unselective hunting with snares (set to catch other wildlife, such as antelopes and bush pigs) often kills or injures them. The illegal trade of live gorillas and other great apes or their body parts is a problem across Central Africa. WWF works with partners to monitor this trade and supports efforts to enforce wildlife laws more effectively.

Learn more about gorillas.