The western gorilla, also known as Gorilla gorilla, is a large ape that lives in Midwest Africa. There are two subspecies of western gorillas: western lowland gorillas and cross river gorillas.
Western lowland gorillas are found in Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic, Angola, and Cameroon. They can be identified by their large hands, short muzzles, large nostrils, and prominent brow ridges.
Cross river gorillas are found in the Cameroon-Nigeria border region, with only about 250 to 300 individuals left in the wild. This subspecies is critically endangered due to habitat destruction, diseases, and poaching.
However, the governments of Cameroon and Nigeria, along with wildlife conservation organizations, have made efforts to protect these endangered gorillas. Cross river gorillas have dark brown to black fur, broad heads, flat faces, long muscular arms, broad hands, and curved fingers.
Western gorillas are lighter in color compared to eastern gorillas, with dark brown or grey hair covering their bodies. An adult western gorilla weighs between 165 kg and 200 kg, while adult females weigh between 70 kg and 100 kg.
Western gorillas live in groups called families, led by a silverback gorilla. A silverback is an adult male with silver-grey hair on its back. The silverback is responsible for deciding feeding and nesting areas, defending the family from attacks, and mating with the females. A typical gorilla family consists of 4 to 30 members. Gorillas are most active in the morning around 7 a.m. when they search for food, rest during midday, and build their nests in the evening around 6 p.m.
Female western gorillas reach sexual maturity at the age of 8 to 9 years. Their pregnancy lasts between 8.5 and 9 months. After giving birth, they do not reproduce again for about 4 years as they spend 3 to 4 years caring for their infants. This slow reproduction rate contributes to the slow growth of their population.
Western gorillas mainly feed on vegetation such as leaves, stems, fruits, flowers, roots, and shoots, along with small insects. An adult gorilla can consume up to 18 kg of vegetation daily.
The main threats to western gorillas are habitat loss, diseases, poaching, and their low reproduction rate. These challenges have made it difficult for their population to increase. Governments in the countries where these gorillas live, in collaboration with wildlife conservation organizations, have taken steps to protect them through research and strict anti-poaching laws.
The best time to visit western gorillas is during the dry season, from June to September and December to February, although they can also be visited in other seasons. Remarkably, western gorillas are friendly animals, and tourists often create unforgettable memories while trekking to see them.
