Species of Gorillas in Africa : What are the different species of gorillas? Gorillas are the largest of the land mammals and are said to be our closest relatives, after bonobos and chimpanzees. Gorillas share 98% of their genetic code with humans. More so, Gorillas display many of common behaviors.
with humans such as sadness and laughter. These wild species are only found in some of Africa’s tropical forests, wetlands, marshes, mountains and highlands.
Gorillas are known as powerful primates with muscular arms, thick chests, large nostrils and black-brownish hair. Hair covers the entire body except for the face, hands, feet and chest- the old silverbacks. Most time, gorillas walk with all four legs but can stand erect especially when feeding on tree bark or displaying dominance.
Facts about gorillas;
Adult male gorillas are called silverbacks because of the silver-gray hairs on their back.
Silverbacks are larger than the females and can weigh between 135 to 220 kilograms in the wild. Those in captivity may grow fatter and heavier because of less exercise Because to their weight, adult gorillas avoid climbing trees. It is the young that climb and sleep on short tree branches most of the time.
They live in groups led by a dominant silverback.
A gorilla group can contain between 4 to 30 individual.
Gorillas can live up to 35 years in the wild and those in captivity can live up to 50 years.
The group of gorillas includes younger males, juveniles, females and their babies. The stability of a gorilla family varies entirely on the bond between the females and the dominant silverback.
Mating in gorillas is often initiated by the female as soon as she is fertile.
Young female gorillas always leave the group once they are sexually maturity to join lone males or other gorilla family.
The movement of gorillas is to avoid inbreeding and competition for the attention of the dominant silverback.
A mature male gorilla may stay with his family of birth but are in most cases driven away by the dominant silverback to begin a life alone or join other males. From there lonely life, they will attempt to snatch female from stable gorilla families. If a male succeeds in staying with his family, he will lay low, mate with some of the females and waits to over throw his aged father.
Note; The efforts of wildlife conservation Agencies have been hampered by civil unrest, corruption, lack of rule of law and weak enforcement of creating. Poachers, consumers and traders of bush meat are often given light sentences.
Types of Gorillas – The Two Gorilla Species
Well, there are two species of gorillas in Africa that is; the Eastern gorilla and Western gorilla ‘’Gorilla Gorilla’’. The Western gorillas is the most abundant species. Their nose structure is different and they have a lighter color than the Eastern gorilla.
Western gorilla is divided into two subspecies – the Cross River Gorilla ‘’G. gorilla diehli’’ and the Western lowland gorilla ‘’G. gorilla gorilla’’.
The Eastern Gorilla ‘’G. beringei also has two subspecies – the mountain gorillas ‘’G. beringei beringei graueri’’.
The Eastern lowland gorilla ‘’G. beringei graueri’’.
Generally, the Eastern lowland referred to as the Grauer’s gorilla.
The Eastern gorillas are the largest of all the apes and are found in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Four Gorilla Sub-Species;
Western Lowland gorillas ‘’G. gorilla gorilla’’
The western lowland gorilla lives in the lowland forests of central and west Africa; Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Central African Republic, Cameroon, Gabon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of the Congo and Gabon. These are the smallest but most abundant of all the four gorilla subspecies. They live in some of the largest and densest forests of Africa. It is approximated to be over 350,000 remain in the wild.
Western lowland gorillas are also the most commonly seen species in zoos and stand out from the two subspecies of eastern gorillas – because of their greyish-reddish fur.
They have been noticed to be more open to inter-group interactions and feeding. Western lowland is the most numerous of all the gorilla subspecies, their overall population is believed to have lowered by 60% in the last 25 years.
Their greatest threat are humans and the Ebola virus which over spread in 2023 and wiped out over 30 percent of their population.
The western gorilla can be seen in zoos or in one of the national parks in west/Central.
Cross River Gorillas ‘’G. gorilla diehli’’
The Cross River Gorilla was classified as a distinct subspecies in the year 2000 and are noted as critically endangered by the IUCN in their 2006 list. Cross River gorillas inhabit a stretch of 3,000 square miles of forested mountains and highlands. In Africa, Cross River gorillas are found in two countries Cameroon and Nigeria. They live in the most northern and western part of Africa’ ’considering gorilla dispersion’’.
Cross river gorillas can weigh about 440 pounds and can stand up to 5 feet long. They are few that still exist in the wild with less than 350 individuals.
They are particularly vulnerable to extinction, because they occupy a small stretch of land and come into more contact with humans.
They are more aggressive, elusive and difficult to study. The greatest threat to cross river is loss of genetic diversity, habitat loss and poaching.
Note; The government of Cameroon, Nigeria and International wildlife conservation Agencies have acted fast to ensure that they are not wiped out.
Eastern Lowland Gorilla ‘’The Grauer’s gorilla’’
The Eastern lowland gorillas lies in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. They are found in Kahuzi Biega National Parks, Maika National Park, Odzala- Kokoua National Park and areas around the Itombwe Massif.
The Eastern lowland gorillas is the largest of all gorilla subspecies.
They have a stocky body, a short muzzle and large hands.
They are the third most critically endangered species of the three gorilla subspecies. Their home range from 81,000 square miles to only 5,600square miles in the last two decades. Currently, over 7,500 Eastern lowland gorilla still exist in the wild.
Mountain Gorilla ‘’G. beringei beringei’’
Mountain gorillas are one of the two subspecies of the Eastern gorillas. They only found in three countries in the world that is Virunga Mountain regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and Rwanda.
They are not as heavy as the Eastern lowland gorilla and generally live in forest at higher elevations of about ‘’8,000 to 12,000 feet’’ along the mountain slopes.
They standout because of their thick and long hair -fur.
They have thick coat that protects them from the cold temperatures on mountain slopes.
Mountain gorillas are the second most endangered of the four gorilla subspecies.
They can only be seen in the wilds or at the Senkwekwe Gorilla Orphanage in Congo. Currently, the number has increased to over 1100 individuals, that still remain in the wild.
Mountain Gorillas are threatened by habitat loss as a result of continues human encroachment on forests and mountain slopes.
Uganda Gorilla Permit Booking ,2024-2026 cost;
Fortunately, Uganda Wildlife Authority ‘’UWA’’ have revised the Uganda Gorilla Permit prices for the next two years- it has confirmed that from the 01st July 2024-30 June 2026, new prices of Uganda Gorilla permits have come into effect to an increase;
Gorilla Trekking Permit Cost;
USD 800 from previous USD700 for all international tourists
USD700 from previous USD600 for all foreign residents.
Rest of Africa pay USD500
East Africa Citizen pay UGX300,000 per person per day
Gorilla Habituation Permit Price;
Foreign Non Resident pay USD1500 per person per day.
Foreign Resident pay USD1000, East African Citizen pay UGX750,000 and Rest of Africa USD500 per person per trek.
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