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Western lowland gorilla
Gorilla gorilla gorilla
Western lowland gorillas are quiet, peaceful and non-aggressive.
They are most active in the morning and spend most of their days eating and sleeping.
They never attack unless they are provoked.
However, to protect their groups, adult males will attempt to scare off intruders by standing upright, slapping their chests and roaring and screaming.
Diet
Gorillas eat fruit, shoots, bulbs, tree bark and leaves.
Size
Western lowland gorillas can be up to 1.8 metres tall and can weigh up to 275 kilograms.
Location
Gorillas are found in tropical rainforests in western central Africa.
EEP = European Endangered Species Programme
CITES = Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
IUCN = International Union for Conservation of Nature
ESB = European Studbook
Conservation status
The IUCN believes western lowland gorillas face an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
They are listed under Appendix I of CITES.
Threats
The biggest threat facing gorillas is the destruction of their forest habitat. They are hunted for meat and for the live animal trade.
Outbreaks of the Ebola virus have also forced them from large parts of otherwise intact forests.
Current population
In 2004, there were believed to be 90,000 western lowland gorillas left in the wild.
Experts now think this was an over-estimate and wild numbers could be significantly lower.
Population numbers are also still in decline.
Zoo population
There is currently an EEP for western lowland gorillas.
There are around 750 gorillas living in zoos around the world.
