Gorilla Life Cycle – Gorillas have a gestation period of 8.5 to 9 months. Gorillas have a low birth rate because a female can only give birth again when the infant has grown to at least 4 years old.
Gorillas usually give birth to 2 to 6 infants in their entire lives. A baby gorilla is known as an infant. It is born with a weight of 1.8 kg, but as they grow, they become bigger and heavier.
Infants start walking and sitting at 3 to 4 months and are carried by their mothers until they are 6 months old.
When a young gorilla grows to the age of 4 to 8 years, they are called juveniles.
A male gorilla becomes sexually active at the age of 10 to 12 years, while a female becomes sexually active at the age of 8 years.
When gorillas become juveniles, they can do most activities independently.
At the age of 10 to 15 years, gorillas are considered adults, and males are known as black-backs.
Summary of Gorilla Life Cycle
The gorilla life cycle consists of stages of growth and development.
Stage 1: Infancy: The infancy stage is from 0 to 3 years. Gorillas are nursed by their mothers, and most of their time is spent with their mothers.
Stage 2: Juveniles: The juvenile stage is from 3 to 6 years. Gorillas become more adventurous in this stage and play a lot with their siblings, helping them socialize.
Stage 3: Sub-adult: The sub-adult stage is from 6 to 10 years. Gorillas are very independent, socialize a lot with others, and females reach sexual maturity while males continue growing.
Stage 4: Adulthood: The adulthood stage is from 10 years and above. Males become black-backs with a dark coat, and the dominant males become silverbacks, with a silvery patch on their backs.
Lifespan of Gorillas
The average lifespan of gorillas is 35 to 40 years. However, they can sometimes live up to 50 years.
Diet
Gorillas feed on vegetation such as leaves, shoots, roots, fruits, bamboo, and others.
A male gorilla can eat up to 30 kg of vegetation per day, and a female gorilla can eat up to 18 kg of vegetation per day.
Social Structure
Gorillas live in groups called families, consisting of 5 to 30 members. They are led by a dominant male known as a silverback.
The silverback is responsible for protecting the family, mating with females, and deciding sleeping and feeding times.
