Where does the Western gorilla live?
The western gorilla lives in mid-western Africa, a region geographically isolated from that of the eastern gorilla. There are two subspecies: the western lowland gorilla, found over most of the region, and the Cross River gorilla, limited to a smaller range in the north, on the border of Cameroon and Nigeria. It is the second-largest living primate, after the eastern gorilla.
What does the Western gorilla eat?
Gorillas are mostly vegetarian: they feed on leaves, berries, ferns and bark. They live in groups of two to twenty individuals, led by a dominant silverback male, with several females and their young. The western lowland gorilla uses tools: it probes swamps and streams with a stick before crossing them. The baby weighs about 2 kg at birth and stays dependent on its mother for 3 to 4 years.
Is the Western gorilla endangered?
Yes: the IUCN lists it as Critically Endangered, and both subspecies are affected. An adult male weighs 145 to 191 kg and averages 1.67 m, and a western gorilla lives 35 to 40 years in the wild.
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