Gorillas are categorized into two species that is to say the eastern gorillas and the western gorillas. It is however important to note that these two gorilla species are further divided into two subspecies that is to say the eastern gorillas are subdivided into the subspecies of mountain gorillas and eastern lowland gorillas while the western gorillas are subdivided into the Cross River gorillas and the western lowland gorillas. All these gorilla species have different characteristics and lifespans.
Eastern gorillas.
These kinds of gorillas normally inhabit mountain slopes and densely thick tropical rainforests and they are endemic to the central and some parts of East Africa. The eastern gorillas have long arms, quite big heads and broad chests. The eastern gorillas are further divided into mountain gorillas and eastern lowland gorillas.
Mountain gorillas.
Mountain gorillas are characterized by muscular arms, they have broad hands and feet, they have bigger chests and they normally live in isolated groups led by dominant silverbacks. Their families are made up of silverbacks, adult females, juveniles and infants. Mountain gorillas also share 98% of the human DNA and there are today around 1,063 individuals left in the wild. Mountain gorillas can live up to between 40 and 50 years. Mountain gorillas can be found in the southwest of Uganda in the Mgahinga and Bwindi National Parks, Rwanda in Volcanoes National Park and in Virunga National Park in Democratic Republic of Congo.
Eastern lowland gorillas.
Eastern lowland gorillas have quite large hands and a short muzzle. They also have a stocky body and can live up to between 30 to 40 years. Eastern lowland gorillas are endemic to the dense forests in the Democratic Republic of Congo, especially in Kahuzi-Biega National Park and have in the past years been habituated and therefore
are familiar with human presence in their habitat making gorilla tracking activities possible in the region. Male eastern lowland gorillas can grow up to 210 kilograms.
Western gorillas.
Western gorillas today are around 316,000 in the wild and they are critically endangered according to IUCN. They can be found in the areas of Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Democratic Republic of Congo in the dense tropical rainforests. National parks in these countries provide opportunities to track the gorillas and therefore visitors have the chance to spend time with them, interact with them and have a deeper understanding of their adaptation to their habitats. The western gorillas are subdivided into the Cross River gorillas and the western lowland gorillas.
Cross River gorillas.
These are critically endangered species and they got their name “Cross River” according to their ways of life since they live in tropical rainforests near the Cross River. The Cross River gorillas are slenderer as compared to other gorillas. They are also identical in their size since they are shorter and larger with colored hair that is brownish on the head. They have longer arms and more prominent sagittal crests. Cross-river gorillas can live up to 35 to 40 years.
Western lowland gorillas.
Western lowland gorillas are slightly smaller in size as compared to other species of gorillas. They have brown grayish coats and auburn chests. The western lowland gorillas can weigh up to 270 kilograms and they live up to between 40 years in the wild and sixty years in captivity. Western lowland gorillas inhabit the tropical rainforests in the Central African Republic, Gabon and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Western lowland gorillas have a vegetarian diet, they are known to feed on tree stems, bamboo shoots, tree leaves,
fruits and some roots. It's however important to note that western lowland gorillas also feast on ants, termites and other invertebrates.
Which gorillas can survive in museums?
Many gorilla species cannot be able to survive in museums, especially mountain gorillas due to their complex diet. It is however important to single out that western lowland gorillas and eastern lowland gorillas can be able to survive in museums due to their exceptional adaptability. Adult male western gorillas can feed up to about 45 pounds of food in a single day. Western lowland gorillas also feed on banana leaves and that's why it's easy for them to be in a museum since such foods can be gathered and brought to them.
