Both gorilla species have been decreasing in numbers for decades, and a 2010 United Nations report suggests that they may disappear from large parts of the Congo Basin by the mid-2020s.Ĭonservation efforts by WWF, other organizations, and governments are making a difference for gorillas. This low rate of reproduction makes it difficult for gorillas to recover from population declines. Once a female begins to breed, she'll likely give birth to only one baby every four to six years and only three or four over her entire lifetime. while the other consisted of two subadults and a silverback. Females become sexually mature around seven or eight years old but don’t begin to breed until a couple of years later. Gorillas live in polygamous harem groups, generally composed of one male, several adult. The bond between the silverback and his females forms the basis of gorilla social life. Zookeepers fed JJ breakfast in the morning while the. LITTLE ROCK (November 3, 2008) The Little Rock Zoo is sad to announce the death of a male silverback western lowland gorilla, JJ, or Jungle Jack, who died Sunday morning in his exhibit. Gorillas live in family groups of usually five to 10, but sometimes two to more than 50, led by a dominant adult male-or silverback-who holds his position for years. City of Little Rock Public Relations (501) 371-4421. Each has a lowland and upland subspecies.
The two gorilla species live in equatorial Africa, separated by about 560 miles of Congo Basin forest. The largest of the great apes, gorillas are stocky animals with broad chests and shoulders, large, human-like hands, and small eyes set into hairless faces.
In fact, gorillas share 98.3% of their genetic code with humans, making them our closest cousins after chimpanzees and bonobos. Gorillas are gentle giants and display many human-like behaviors and emotions, such as laughter and sadness.