Mountain gorilla

The gentle giant

The gorilla is the biggest ape, but very peaceful: it eats only plants and protects its family. A gorilla's DNA is 98% the same as ours! The family leader is a 'silverback', a big male with silver fur on his back. Gorillas laugh, play, and build a new nest every night.

The mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei) lives in the Virunga volcanoes and Bwindi forest on the borders of Rwanda, Uganda and DR Congo, at 2,500–4,000 m. In 1981 only 254 remained; thanks to Dian Fossey's work and ecotourism, numbers passed 1,000 by 2018 and the IUCN status improved from CR to EN. A group of 5–30 is led by a silverback male; chest-beating is a show of strength, not an attack. It eats 30 kg of plants a day. It shares 98.3% of its DNA with humans, uses tools, and can learn sign language (Koko knew 1,000 signs). Mountain gorillas cannot be kept in zoos.

Fun facts

• A gorilla's DNA is 98% identical to a human's.
• Gorillas build a new 'bed' — a nest of leaves — every night.
• Gorillas laugh when they're tickled too!