Western gorilla

The western gorilla is a big, gentle ape that lives in the warm, green forests of West Africa. You can find them in countries like Cameroon, Gabon, and the Republic of Congo. They have dark hair that can look black, grey, or brown, and they are one of the largest apes in the whole world.

Gorillas live together in caring family groups. Each group has a father, some mothers, and their children, all led by a large male with silvery hair on his back called a silverback. He watches over the family and helps keep the little ones safe. Young gorillas play, climb, and stay close to their mothers for the first few years of their lives.

These big apes mostly eat plants. They munch on leaves, juicy stems, fruit, flowers, and bark, and sometimes they snack on tiny insects like ants and termites. When lots of fruit is ripe, a gorilla family will travel through the forest to find the tastiest trees.

Gorillas are clever, quiet animals. Different family groups even like slightly different foods, a bit like how families of people enjoy different meals. Gorillas are usually calm and shy, and they would much rather move away than bother anyone.

There are far fewer western gorillas than there used to be, because the forests they need are being cut down and some gorillas have been hunted or made sick. Kind people all around the world are working hard to protect the forest and give these gentle giants a safe place to live.