Western lowland gorilla

First came the timber companies. Then the hunters.

Common Name		Western lowland gorilla; Gorille occidental de plaine (Fr); Gorila (Sp)
Scientific Name		Gorilla gorilla gorilla
Habitat		Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
Location		Central Africa
Status		IUCN: Critically Endangered (CR)
Population		Possibly 100,000 individuals

Background

This information has been reviewed.

Found in the vast lowland forests of central Africa, the western lowland gorilla is by far the most widespread and numerous of all gorillas. However, this subspecies of western gorilla is coming under threat as timber companies move into the region. And as forests are opened up by the timber companies, hunters move in. The commercial trade in bushmeat is now an added threat to these gorillas and other forest fauna. Ebola hemorrhagic fever has also emerged as a new threat.

Physical Description

The western lowland gorilla has a brownish-grey coat with a red or auburn crest. Mature males have a silvery white saddle extending from the back to the rump and thighs. In this subspecies, the brow ridge is more pronounced, and ears appear small in relation to the heads. Compared to other gorilla subspecies, the western lowland gorilla also has a wider skull.

The gorilla is an impressive animal, identified by a stocky body, large hands and a short muzzle. Unusually, the gorilla's thumbs are larger than the fingers. The face, ears, hands, and feet are bare, and the chest in old males lacks hair.

Size
The gorilla can reach a height of 1.25-1.75 meters when standing on two feet. Weight is 70-140 kg in females and 135-275 kg in males.

Colour
The hair of western lowland gorillas is short, and of grayish or brownish colour. The male has a patch of whitish hair that extends onto the thighs, grading into the black body color.

Habitat

Major habitat type
Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests

Biogeographic realm
Afrotropical

Range States
Nigeria, Cameroon, Central African Republic (CAR), Guinea, Gabon, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre), Angola

Geographical Location
Central Africa

Ecological Region
Congolian Coastal Forests, Western Congo Basin Moist Forests