Gorillas share about 98% of their DNA with humans, making them one of our closest living relatives. They are also the largest living primates, growing up to 1.7 meters tall and weighing between 135 and 220 kilograms. Besides human-like hands, broad chests, and expressive faces, they share our social side too, living in close-knit groups that function like families, where mothers nurture, carry, and groom their young for years. Often called “gentle giants,” they can display that immense gorilla strength through behaviors like the iconic “chest beat.”
Gorilla
Zone
Africa
Scientific name
Gorilla gorilla (Western); Gorilla beringei (Eastern)
IUCN Red List status
Critically Endangered (CR) - Western Gorilla and Eastern Gorilla
Natural habitat
Gorilla habitat ranges from dense tropical rainforests and swampy lowlands to montane cloud forests, depending on altitude and region (from sea level up to about 3,800 meters). All gorilla species are found within the tropical forests of Equatorial Africa.
Dietary Requirements
Given their forest habitat and herbivorous diet, gorillas can consume up to 30 kilograms of vegetation daily, including leaves, stems, fruit, and bark.
Threats
Threats to the gorilla population include habitat destruction, hunting for the illegal meat trade, and poaching of young for pets and farming.
Conservation
Sustained conservation and global cooperation have helped gorilla populations rebound from around 600 to over 1,000. Once Critically Endangered, they are now listed as Endangered, showing how decades of protection and community action can turn the tide for a species.
Did you know?Studies show that gorillas clean their food by rubbing or rinsing and make branch bridges to cross waterways. They have also been observed to cup their hands when drinking and taught to clean their teeth.
Did you know?We share 98% of our DNA with gorillas, which means they can also catch a cold and other human illnesses.
About Al Ain Zoo
About Al Ain Zoo
A Pioneering Vision
Established in 1968 by the UAE’s founding father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Al Ain Zoo has been in the forefront of preserving the region’s wildlife and delicate ecosystem, while caring for hundreds of endangered animals.
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