Oct 11, 2012 these two baby eastern lowland gorillas are in quarantine at virunga national park headquarters of rumangabo in dr congo for 3 months following their confiscation from poachers. The considerable dietary differences between mountain, western, and eastern lowland gorillas impact home range size and social behavior. There are two species of gorillas the western gorillas and eastern gorillas. Jan 09, 2011 this sunday morning moment of nature takes you among the eastern lowland gorillas in the democratic republic of congo. Zoo biology the north american regional gorilla studbook is designed to be a tool. Palomar the passage is a meditation on loneliness, captivity, the burden of being unique in the world, and mortality. Set in the democratic republic of the congo, it explores gorilla poaching and the mining of coltan from the. The western lowland gorilla is the most numerous and widespread of all gorilla subspecies. In 1994 there were almost 17,000 eastern lowland gorillas in the wild, but over the course of just 21 years, they lost 77% of their population.
The eastern gorillas further split into what we now know as mountain gorillas and eastern lowland gorillas 400,000 years ago. This sunday morning moment of nature takes you among the eastern lowland gorillas in the democratic republic of congo. Gorillas are indigenous parts of east, central and west africa and only exist elsewhere in captivity, apart from mountain gorillas that do not stay in captivity. Eastern lowland gorillas have thin hair that keeps them cool but the mountain gorillas have longer and darker hair that allows them to trap heat since night temperatures in the virunga mountains can drop below freezing. This subspecies may now occupy only % of its historical range. All four types of gorillas are endangered due to loss of.
An estimated 150,000250,000 western lowland gorillas, less than 4,000 eastern lowland gorillas gorilla berengei grauen, approximately 880 mountain gorillas gorilla berengei berengei, and less than 300 cross river gorillas gorilla gorilla diehli remain in western and central africa. It is distinguished from other gorillas by its stocky body, large hands and short muzzle. The zoo is home to six western lowland gorillas that reside at the great ape house. Eastern lowland gorillas normally feed during the morning and afternoon and rest around midday. They are differentiated from other subspecies by a stockier body, larger hands, and a shorter muzzle. The eastern lowland gorilla also known as gorilla beringei graueri is a subspecies of the eastern gorilla, this subspecies is known to be the largest of all the four gorilla species and can only be found in kahuzi beiga national park, maiko national park, itombwe massif, tayna gorilla reserve and usala forest in the democratic republic of congo. Western lowland gorilla new england primate conservancy. Gorillas were studied in 15 zoos, they lived in 14 groups with male and female adults and immatures, 2 groups of adults without immatures, 3 adult pairs, 2 solitary silverbacks and several groups of immatures. He also makes a brief appearance in italo calvinos novel mr. Adaptations and biome changes eastern lowland gorilla.
The eastern lowland gorilla is well adapted to the tropical rainforest biome. Jun 27, 2016 the eastern lowland gorilla gorilla beringei graueri is endangered en, according to the red list of the international union for conservation of nature. These gorillas can be distinguished by their nose which has a continuous heart shaped ridge around its nostrils, shorter hair, and wider skull. Habitat western lowland gorillas are native to central africa, and for the most part, they are spread throughout. Baraka is an adult male, or silverback, who resides in the gorilla troop with mandara, calaya, kibibi and moke. Outside their native range, only one female eastern lowland gorilla lives in captivity, at the antwerp zoo in belgium.
Visit kahuzibeiga national park and track the eastern lowland gorillas and help them survive. Eastern lowland gorilla gorilla facts and information. But their populations are being threatened by poaching and disease. The weight of a male mountain gorilla ranges from 5kgs to 220kgs, compared to their lowland counterparts whose weight range between 65kgs and 180kgs. Western lowland gorillas are a subspecies of the western gorilla and the smallest species of all gorilla subspecies. Also the lowland gorillas can thrive in zoos contrary to the mountain gorillas that cannot survive in captivity.
An adult male gorilla can weigh up to 225 kilograms and stand 1. Eastern lowland gorillas can survive in captivity thats why you can find them in zoos. These gorillas are the most researched and studied species of gorillas. Grauers gorilla, formerly known as the eastern lowland gorilla g. The name gorilla was adopted in 1852 after the genus were first called troglodytes. They live in heavy rain forests, and it is difficult for scientists to accurately estimate how many survive in cameroon, central african republic, congo, equatorial guinea, gabon, angola. The eastern gorilla is found inhabiting the tropical jungles and forests of parts of eastern and central africa, along with lowland swamps and secondary forests. Learn more about what wwf is doing to protect its future, and how you can help. These gorillas can be distinguished by their nose which has a continuous heart shaped ridge. The eastern lowland gorilla also eats leaves, nuts and berries, along with insects and occasionally small animals such as lizards and. The tropical rainforest biome was larger ten million years ago and through the years it has gotten much smaller causing the habitat of the eastern lowland gorilla to get smaller. Gorilla simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Records indicate that during the last 20 or 30 years, its population has declined dramatically. The eastern lowland gorilla makes its home in lowland tropical rainforests in the eastern drc. A book now you can can watch this really adorably video with a baby gorilla eating a carrot fun facts a good kid friendly book about gorillas is good night gorilla this book is about a. As in humans, they do not have a determined reproductive season, and females give birth to. At present, the species is subdivided into two subspecies. The western lowland gorilla is the only subspecies kept in zoos with the exception of amahoro, a female eastern lowland gorilla at antwerp zoo, and a few mountain gorillas kept captive in the democratic republic of the congo. After a period of time about 2 million years ago, eastern gorillas separated from the western gorillas in west and central africa. She absolutely loved this book and 100% understood the little girl mc was not literally possessed. The eastern lowland gorilla is one of two subspecies of eastern gorilla found roaming in the jungles on the african continent the other being the mountain gorilla. The story itself is superbly rendered with stunning imagery and attention to detail without feeling too heavy my 9yo read this book before i did and then shoved it into my. Western lowland gorillas are a highly endangered great ape species found in the rainforests of west africa. The eastern gorilla is found in the trees in throughout the countries of rwanda, uganda and eastern congo. This is a gorgeous story loaded with heart and love and truth. A male western lowland gorilla weighs 140170 kilograms and reaches a height of 1.
The eastern lowland gorilla is an omnivorous animal, but the majority of its diet is made up of eating fruit which the eastern lowland gorilla is known to travel vast distances through the forests to find. Western lowland gorillas are the smallest of the four gorilla subspecies, which also include the cross river gorillas, grauers gorillas, and mountain gorillas. Congo river basin, mountain gorillas found in virunga. Western lowland gorillas are endangered, but they remain far more common than their relatives, the mountain gorillas. The habitat of eastern lowland gorillas is part of the ecosystem of the congo river basin. Recent data show the number of western lowland gorillas to be about 100,000, eastern lowland gorillas about 17,000, and mountain gorillas about 700 and cross river about 300. The eastern gorilla gorilla beringei is a critically endangered species of the genus gorilla and the largest living primate. Columbus zoo announces the death of colo, worlds oldest zoo. Sep 30, 2014 the international union for conservation of nature iucn lists the gorilla beringei species mountain gorillas and eastern lowland gorillas as endangered on its red list of threatened species. The size of the group varies between two to twenty animals, and is formed by at least the dominant male, several females and infants.
The maximum size of a male eastern lowland gorilla can be over 250 kilograms 550 lb and when standing fully erect over 2 meters 6. There are roughly 600 gorillas in captivity throughout the world, as. This was different in 1976, when the gorilla was included in appendix i of cites. The purpose of this study was to observe as many gorilla groups as possible and to compare their behaviour in different exhibits, social structures and visitor situation.
Most gorillas living in zoos today have been born in captivity. Despite these differences, though, all gorilla groups exhibit synchronized activities and, throughout the day, alternate between rest periods and travel or feeding periods stewart 2001. They can be in seen on the tree species throughout eastern democratic republic of congo. These two baby eastern lowland gorillas are in quarantine at virunga national park headquarters of rumangabo in dr congo for 3 months following their confiscation from poachers. The western lowland gorilla has adapted to walk like this without that problem. They can be strong like chimpanzees and orangutans. Despite its size, eastern lowland gorillas subsist mainly on fruit and other. Status of gorillas worldwide the gorilla foundation. There are only four different gorilla species including eastern lowland gorillas which dwell within central africa d.
May be most threatened of all the subspecies has declined by 75% in the past two decades. The eastern lowland gorilla also known as grauers gorilla is the largest of the four gorilla subspecies. Roles of gorillas in the eco system gorilla trekking uganda. Set in the democratic republic of the congo, it explores gorilla poaching and the mining of coltan from the rainforests that serve as the eastern lowland gorillas habitat. The western lowland gorilla is the only subspecies kept in zoos with the exception of amahoro, a female eastern lowland gorilla at antwerp zoo and a few mountain gorillas kept captive in the democratic republic of the congo. The eastern lowland gorillaalso known as grauers gorillais the largest of the four gorilla subspecies. The western lowland gorilla is an exclusively vegetarian gorilla that lives in family groups led by a dominant male, that can be distinguished by its silver whitish back. The eastern lowland gorilla is more common than the mountain gorilla and is also one of the largest primates in the world. Most captive gorillas live in zoos in the usa and europe. Koko and ndume, who live at the gorilla foundation in northern california, are also western lowland gorillas. He is the largest member of our gorilla troop, weighing in at more than 400 pounds.
Despite its size, eastern lowland gorillas subsist mainly on fruit and other herbaceous materials, just like other gorilla subspecies. There are more than 600 species of trees in the area. Apr 10, 2018 also the lowland gorillas can thrive in zoos contrary to the mountain gorillas that cannot survive in captivity. Launched on august 21st, gorillas land is a webpage created by three gorillas the official gorilla studbook and the unofficial jim davis studbook. Baraka has a large crest on his head and a saddle of silver hair. The eastern lowland gorillas belong to one of the 2 sub species of eastern gorilla that lives in the jungle of eastern and central africa together with lowland swamps and secondary forests and the other subspecies is the rare mountain gorilla. Eastern lowland gorillas mostly eat leaves and other vegetation rather than fruit. The mountain gorillas are larger than the lowland cousins.
Seventy percent of africas flora distribution is in the congo basin. Gorilla dawn by gill lewis meet your next favorite book. As their name hints, they live in the mountains at elevations between 8,000 and,000 feet. Gorilla tourism is also hoped to increase as tourists visits to gorillas generates huge revenues that fund conservation and development of local communities adjacent to eastern lowland gorilla national parks and forest reserves.
According to a 2004 report there were only about 5,000 eastern lowland gorillas in the wild, down to fewer than 3,800 in 2016, compared to over 100,000 western lowland gorillas. There were nearly 17,000 eastern lowland gorillas in the mid1990s but scientists estimate that the population has declined by more than 50% since then. Geographic distribution and habitat the western lowland gorilla is one of two subspecies of western gorilla the rare cross river gorilla being the other and is the most widespread of all gorillas, inhabiting the dense and remote tropical rainforests of cameroon, the central african republic, the democratic republic of congo, equatorial guinea, gabon, angola, and the isolated lowland swampy. There were nearly 17,000 eastern lowland gorillas in the mid1990s but scientists estimate that the population has declined by. Eastern gorilla gorilla berengei animals az animals. Eastern lowland gorilla gorilla berengei graueri animals. Eastern lowland gorilla trekking in congo kahuzi biega national park gorillas are large forest dwelling apes that live in the forests, swamps and lowland areas of east, west and central africa. At the end of 1991, 692 gorillas lived in zoos, 371 of which had been born in captivity.
1386 204 906 1476 445 628 1139 1403 1629 1289 143 551 316 84 1458 545 306 1237 1264 718 1499 392 980 1218 627 1332 666 88 518 618 122 1230 1475 1434 1494 1240