Western Gorillas Eastern Gorillas - Diet
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Picture source:
Gorilla Haven © 2003
The Dewar Wildlife Trust Inc.
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The diet of the Western and Eastern Gorillas differ greatly. Eastern Gorillas prefer leaves while Western Gorillas eat mostly fruits in great amounts. Eastern Gorillas also eat shoots and stems, which comprises about 86% of their diet according to one study. Small amounts of wood, roots, flowers, fruits, and grubs also are eaten. The Western populations prefer fruits, which are the most important element in the Gorillas' diet, although they also eat leaves, pith and stems.
There have been studies undertaken to find out what a Gorilla eats exactly. The group that has been most observed showed that there were fruits of at least 95% plant species utilized. The Gorilla also broke into termite nests to feed on the insects inside the nests. Western Gorillas have also been observed wading through shallow pools and swamps to harvest water plants. The Western species further differ from Eastern animals in that they occasionally include some animal food in their diet.
Western Gorillas Eastern Gorillas - Behavior
Gorillas are terrestrial animals but they are very good climbers. They spend almost all the day hanging on the trees at heights of 40 m (130 ft) and feeding. Even large males weighing about 200 kg (440lb) climb to the height of 20 m (65 ft). Gorillas are not afraid of water and, although they need water to drink, they seldom drink water as they get enough liquids from fruits and leaves.
These are diurnal animals; all day long they spend feeding. They are mostly active from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Most of their time is still spent on the ground, not in the trees. However, young animals and females usually spend their time in the trees where they feed and sleep too.
Western Gorillas Eastern Gorillas - Dispersal
Usually when a young gorilla, male and female, grows up s/he leaves the group. Males usually stay solitary until they attract young females to make their own group. And, females usually join some other group when she sets out with a male. Western Gorillas Eastern Gorillas - Interesting Facts
The Gorilla is the largest and most powerful living primate. Social grooming among Western Gorillas-Eastern Gorillas helps to establish and reinforce social bonds.
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Picture source:
Gorilla Haven © 2003
The Dewar Wildlife Trust Inc.
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Western Gorillas Eastern Gorillas - General Information-Links
Goodzoos.com - Animals kept in the Zoos.
Gorilla gorilla (Western Lowland Gorilla) - Description of Western Gorillas, behavior, social organization, habitat.
Gorilla gorilla graueri (Eastern Lowland Gorilla) - Facts, photos and videos of the Eastern Lowland gorilla. Discusses appearance, food, habitat, social structure, offspring and intelligence.
Gorilla Haven - The Dewar Wildlife Trust's Gorilla Haven Project: a sanctuary presently under construction for gorillas in the North Georgia Mountains
Gorillas Online - Gorilla information, research, conservation, news, facts, and original photographs by Tim Knight. The Natural History section includes information on the population and distribution of gorillas in the wild.
Gorillas Outline - Life cycle, breeding, distribution, behavior of Gorillas.
Gorillas Western - Information on gorillas in general, the western lowland gorilla and the mountain gorilla, photos, and links.
Health and Science Western Gorillas-Eastern Gorillas - Information about Western Gorillas Eastern Gorillas. Geographical range, behavior, etc.
Mountain Gorilla - Articles and information about the making of the IMAX film Mountain Gorilla. Includes image gallery.
Mountain Gorilla and Rainforest Direct Aid - Supporting national parks in Uganda and Zaire where mountain gorillas live, as well as national parks in Zaire where the Eastern lowland gorilla lives.
Mountain Gorillas - Mountain Gorillas. Description, behavior, habitat.
Nationalgeographic - Funny facts about Western and Eastern Gorillas.
News BBC - Information about Gorillas, their behavior, habitat, social behavior.
Primates' net - Information about Gorillas and other primates.
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Picture source:
Kilimanjaro Adventure Travel © 1995
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Primates.com - Apes' Pictures including Western and eastern Gorillas.
Primates' Pictures - A lot of pictures of primates.
WCS.org - Donations to save Gorillas.
Western-Eastern Gorillas in the Wild - Stories about Gorillas in the wild nature.
Western Gorillas-Eastern Gorillas - Site dedicated to Gorillas, different types of Gorillas: Western type and Eastern type.
Western Gorillas-Eastern Gorillas-Endangered - Animals endangered. Brief information about Western Gorillas and Eastern Gorillas.
Worldwildlife.org - Endangered Gorillas, pictures, description, brief information about behavior, habitat, diet.
WWF - Western Gorillas - Biology and conservation issues of Gorilla.
