Gorillas are the largest apes in the world. They are strong but gentle, live in close family groups and are very smart. Let's swing into some amazing gorilla facts!
🦍 Gorilla quick facts
- Animal type
- Mammal (great ape)
- Home
- Forests of central Africa
- Food
- Leaves, stems, fruit, bark and some insects
- Size
- Adult males can stand about 5.5 feet (1.7 m) tall
- Life span
- About 35 to 40 years in the wild
25 Gorilla Facts for Kids
- Gorillas are the biggest apes on Earth.
- There are two species of gorillas: eastern gorillas and western gorillas.
- Mountain gorillas are a kind of eastern gorilla that live in misty forests high in the mountains.
- Gorillas live in the forests of central Africa.
- Gorillas share about 98 percent of their DNA with people.
- Gorillas live in family groups called troops.
- A troop is led by a big adult male called a silverback.
- Silverbacks get their name from the silver-gray hair on their backs.
- Adult male gorillas can weigh about 140 to 200 kilograms (300 to 440 pounds).
- Gorillas mostly eat plants like leaves, stems, shoots and fruit.
- A big gorilla can eat around 18 kilograms (40 pounds) of plants in a day.
- Gorillas get most of the water they need from the plants they eat.
- Gorillas walk on all fours using their knuckles. This is called knuckle-walking.
- Every night, gorillas build a new nest out of leaves and branches to sleep in.
- Baby gorillas ride on their mothers' backs.
- A newborn gorilla weighs about 2 kilograms (4 to 5 pounds), a little less than many human babies.
- Young gorillas love to play, wrestle and chase each other.
- Gorillas beat their chests to communicate and show they are strong.
- Gorillas make many sounds, like grunts, hoots and even happy humming while they eat.
- Every gorilla has a unique nose print, like a human fingerprint.
- Gorillas are very smart and can use sticks as tools.
- Some gorillas living with people have learned to use sign language.
- Gorillas are gentle and shy and usually avoid trouble.
- All gorillas are endangered, mostly because their forest homes are being cut down.
- Protected parks and careful tourism help gorilla families grow.
Questions kids ask about gorillas
How strong is a gorilla?
Gorillas are very strong. A silverback is many times stronger than an adult person, but gorillas are usually calm and gentle.
What do gorillas eat?
Gorillas are mostly herbivores. They eat leaves, stems, shoots, fruit and bark, and sometimes ants and termites.
What is a silverback?
A silverback is an adult male gorilla that leads the family troop. He gets his name from the silver hair on his back.
Where do gorillas live?
Gorillas live in the rainforests and mountain forests of central Africa.
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