How Do You Call a Baby Gorilla? A baby gorilla is called an infant. The infant weighs about 1.4 kg to 1.8 kg at birth.
They breastfeed for about 2.5 years and are cared for by their mothers for about 4 years.
When born, a baby mountain gorilla has dark brown hair that covers its entire body. As they grow, gorillas increase in size and can weigh about 100 kg to 270 kg.
Baby gorillas cling to the backs of their mothers when it’s time to move, starting at the age of 4 to 6 months.
Baby gorillas turn into juveniles at the age of 10 years.
Females become sexually active at the age of 8 years, while males become sexually active at the age of 11 to 12 years.
About Gorillas in General
Gorillas are large primates that live on the ground in the tropical rainforests of Africa.
Gorillas are divided into two species: Eastern gorillas and Western gorillas.
Gorillas share 98% of their DNA with human beings, making them our closest cousins.
Gorillas live in both mountainous areas and lowlands.
The Eastern gorilla is divided into two: the mountain gorilla and the Eastern lowland gorilla. These live in the tropical rainforests of Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Western gorilla is divided into two: the Cross River gorilla and the Western lowland gorilla. These live in the countries of Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and Nigeria.
Gorillas live up to 35 to 40 years in the wild. They grow to a height of between 1.25 meters to 1.8 meters and weigh between 100 kg to 270 kg.
Gorillas live in families consisting of 5 to 30 members. Each family is headed by a dominant male called a silverback.
There are about 310,000 Western gorillas and 5,000 Eastern gorillas living in the wild currently.
Both species of gorillas are marked as endangered by the IUCN due to poaching, habitat loss, and diseases.
Characteristics of Gorillas
- The Eastern gorilla is darker than the Western gorilla.
- The Eastern gorilla has a longer face and a broader chest than the Western gorilla.
- Mountain gorillas have the thickest hair among all gorillas.
- Gorillas that live in the lowlands are usually more slender and agile compared to mountain gorillas.
Reproduction of Gorillas
The gestation period for gorillas is 8.5 to 9 months. Females get their first ovulation at the age of 8 years or below and start giving birth at 10 years.
Males become sexually active at the age of 10 years.
Females give birth every 4 years, after the infants have fully grown into adults.
