Gorilla gorilla gorilla

(Savage, 1847)

Vernacular names
English : Western lowland gorilla
French : Gorille de plaine de l’ouest

Classification
Class : Mammalia
Order : Primata
Family : Hominidae
Notes : 1 other subspecies known.

Identification
Body length of 107 cm, weight of 191 kg. Slightly smaller than mountain gorillas with shorter and lighter hair. Black to gray-black hairs becoming silvery on adult males’ back. This subspecies has brown tinge on forehead.

Range and habitat
The species occurs in western equatorial Africa, from Cameroon to North Angola, east to Central African Republic and DR Congo. Lives in dense mature and secondary forests, also swamps, up to 500 meters.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : CRITICALLY ENDANGERED
CITES : Appendix I
Status : The species is critically endangered because of habitat destruction and poaching. Still targeted by bushmeat trade despite legal protection.
Ex-Situ Programs : SSP in America, EEP in Europe

Observation

 

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