MOUNTAIN GORILLAGORILLA GORILLA BERINGEI

Ronald PannellWesley J. Jackson

Habitat Dense forest Rain forest

Rwanda Uganda Congo

Virgin forest water shed

Diet Vegetarian

Variety of plants Wild celery Bamboo Certain fruit

Size Up to 6 feet tall Weighing in at 300 to 425 lbs Massive Broad chest and shoulders

Predator relationship hunted by

Humans, crocodiles, and leopards Hunted for meat and in retaliation for crop

raiding Infants captured by poachers to be put in zoos Heads and hands of adult gorilla sold as

trophies

Age of Reproduction Females ovulate at 7 to 8 years of age First infant between 10 to 12 Males breed before 15

Social Structure Highly socially Cohesive groups

Relationship among females is weak

Year Endangered Early 1990’s

Because of a tragic Civil War War destroyed gorilla reserves

Reason for Endangerment Mainly due to human induced causes

Habitat loss Commercial hunting Poaching Diseases Military conflict

Interesting Facts Breast feed young like humans Can’t swim Humans closest relatives Gorillas rarely attack humans.

Present Day Population Approximately 700 in existence today Past 18 months there have been 23

mountain gorilla deaths reported

Conservation Efforts The Mountain Gorilla Conservation Fund

is dedicated to the conservation and protection of the Mountain Gorilla. The efforts are working as long as the gorillas

and habitat continue to be valued and safe guarded by the government.

Quiz What is the average size of the Mountain

Gorilla? What is the present day population? During what time period did they become

endangered? (What year?) What was one reason for endangerment?

What does their diet consist of?

Cited www.nationalgeographic.com www.google.com www.saveagorilla.org