Western lowland gorilla

Western Lowland Gorilla ( Gorilla gorilla gorilla)

The Western Lowland Gorilla ( Gorilla gorilla gorilla) is one of two subspecies of western gorillas from the primate family of great apes ( Hominidae ). It is the most common by far of all gorilla populations.

Description

From the east living gorilla populations, which are now combined as Eastern gorilla, the western lowland gorillas differ in physique and in the coat color. So these animals are built smaller and more delicate, her chest is narrow, her legs slightly longer and her face shorter. Their fur is in contrast to the black eastern gorillas rather drab colored, flashy is a brown cap at the top of the head. The graying of older males (see silverback ) extends with them not only on the back, but also to the hip and the thigh. Morphological studies of museum specimens in 2001 came to the conclusion that the animals of the Nigerian- Cameroon border region differ in details in dental and cranial structure; they are now run as the Cross River gorillas as separate subspecies.

Area of ​​distribution and habitat

The distribution area of ​​western lowland gorillas extends from southern Cameroon and the western part of the Central African Republic on Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of Congo into the Angolan enclave of Cabinda. The holdings in the far west of the Democratic Republic of Congo are extinct. These animals are the most pronounced lowland gorillas residents of all, they live in rain forests and wetlands.

Way of life

Western lowland gorillas live like all gorillas together in groups, which usually consist of one male, several females and the common offspring. Four to eight animals, these groups are less than those in the Eastern gorillas. Descriptions of group behavior are not consistent, sometimes it comes to short-term allocations ( " Fission -Fusion Organization"), about in search of food. The territorial behavior is poorly developed, the home ranges of each group - are larger with 500-3200 hectare than other gorillas - overlap significantly.

Like all gorillas they are active during the day, for the night they build nests leaves in the trees or on the ground that are typically used only once.

Nutrition

Their food western lowland gorillas looking at the ground or in the trees, in contrast to mountain gorillas but also climb the males often on trees. The daily forays are approximately 0.5 to 1.2 kilometers long. These animals are mostly herbivores that feed on leaves, herbs and fruits, which fruits play a relatively large role in their diet. To what extent do they also eat insects and other small animals, is controversial; there are observations that they break termite mounds and eat the insects.

Western lowland gorillas and humans

Western lowland gorillas are the most common by far the gorillas, their total population is estimated at around 90000-100000 animals. Even in zoos is almost exclusively held this subspecies. The largest free- living resources there are in Gabon and the Republic of Congo, where there are also some protected areas. Nevertheless, the animals are due to the destruction of their habitat and hunting for their meat (see bushmeat ) threatened. The IUCN lists the subspecies as " critically endangered " ( critically endangered ).

System

Previously, all gorilla populations were grouped into a single species, are today with the Western and the Eastern Gorilla two species differed. The Western Lowland Gorilla is a subspecies of Western gorillas and is thus distant relative of the eastern lowland gorilla than this with the mountain gorilla.