Western lowland gorillas are the smallest of all gorilla subspecies. They belong to the western gorilla species and live in the montane, primary, and secondary forests, as well as lowland swamps of Central Africa.These gorillas are found in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Angola, and Cameroon.
The physical features of western lowland gorillas include jet black skin with black hair covering their entire body. Male adult western lowland gorillas have grey hair on their backs, which is why they are called silverbacks. They have large hands, short muzzles, prominent brow ridges, large nostrils, and small eyes.
Although western lowland gorillas are the smallest of the gorilla species, they are still reasonably large and very strong.
Western lowland gorillas live in groups of about 5 to 30 members led by a dominant silverback. The silverback is responsible for protecting the family, leading members to feeding and nesting places, and mating with the females in the group.
These gorillas are mainly ground animals, but they can also climb trees. Female western lowland gorillas become mature at the age of 8 to 9 years, which means they can start having babies. Their pregnancy lasts for about 8.5 months. Male western lowland gorillas reach sexual maturity at the age of 11 to 12 years.
Western lowland gorillas eat vegetation, which includes shoots, roots, stems, leaves, and small fruits.
Facts About Western Lowland Gorillas
- Western lowland gorillas are the smallest of the four gorilla species.
- They have large hands and thumbs with nails on all their fingers, similar to humans.
- An adult male western lowland gorilla can weigh about 150 kg, while a female can weigh about 90 kg.
- They walk long distances in search of food.
- They are usually peaceful and only attack when disturbed.
- Female western lowland gorillas have a low reproduction rate and start giving birth at the age of 8 to 9 years.
- They do not usually live near human settlements.
Some Popular National Parks to See Western Lowland Gorillas
- Odzala-Kokoua National Park in the Republic of Congo
- Loango National Park in Gabon
- Ntokou-Pikounda National Park in the Republic of Congo
- Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park in the Republic of Congo
Trekking Western Lowland Gorillas
Gorilla trekking is an outdoor activity that involves going into dense tropical rainforests to find gorillas.
Trekking western lowland gorillas begins very early in the morning because this is when the gorillas are most active. The activity starts with a briefing at the park headquarters.
Tourists are then divided into groups of up to 8 people, with each group allowed to trek a single gorilla group.
The trek takes about 2 to 6 hours. Once the gorillas are found, tourists are allowed to spend only 1 hour with them.
Best Time to Visit Western Lowland Gorillas
The best time to visit the gorillas is during the dry season, from June to September and December to February. During these months, the trails are dry, making trekking easier.
