West lowland gorilla7/30/2023 For a long time, they have been working together with local communities to improve the situation for the gorillas. One of the main international organizations working with western lowland gorilla conservation in the Republic of the Congo is The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). Surveys conducted by the Wildlife Conservation Society in 2006-2007 found about 125,000 previously unreported gorillas living in swampy forests in the Lake Télé Community Reserve and in the nearby dryland forests in the Republic of the Congo. Due to poaching and disease, researchers later adjusted that number down to less than half. Farming, livestock grazing and expanding human settlements are often more problematic, as they tend to permanently turn gorilla habitat into non-gorilla habitat.Īccording to a gorilla census carried out in the 1980s, the gorilla population in equatorial Africa was comprised of roughly 100,000 individuals. Logging can seriously damage or even destroy gorilla habitat, but there are also examples where careful logging have resulted in increased herbaceous vegetation for the gorillas to eat. Some of the main threats against the western lowland gorilla are habitat loss, hunt for bushmeat and serious diseases, such as ebola. Their range extend from sea level up to circa 1,300 metres. They are found in many different habitats, including rainforest, montane forest, lowland tropical forest, swamp forest, brush, secondary vegetation, clearings, forest edges, abandoned farming fields, and riverine forests. The western lowland gorillas live in primary and secondary forests and lowland swamplands. The Republic of Congo is currently considered to host a majority of the wild western lowland gorillas, and Congo´s large swamp forests are especially important for this subspecies. The western lowland gorilla lives in central Africa in the countries Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon. It is by far the most commonly kept subspecies of gorilla in zoos all over the world. The western lowland gorilla does not grow as big as the other three subspecies of gorilla. Just like the other subspecies, it is listed as Critically Endangered by IUCN. Young gorillas, from three to six years old, remind human observers of children.The western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) is one of the two subspecies of western gorilla.Despite these displays and the animals’ obvious physical power, gorillas are generally calm and nonaggressive unless they are disturbed. He may stand upright, throw things, make aggressive charges, and pound his huge chest while barking out powerful hoots or unleashing a frightening roar. Those who challenge this alpha male are apt to be cowed by impressive shows of physical power.The leader (the silverback) organizes group activities, like eating, nesting, and traveling in their home range. Western lowland gorillas live in the smallest family groups of all gorillas, with an average of 4 to 8 members in each.Gorillas harvest most of their food arboreally, but less than half of their night nests are built in trees.Both sexes will leave their birth group, females are never found alone they just travel from breeding group to breeding group. Males often travel alone and between groups at times. Before reaching the age of sexual maturity, males leave their group and go through a “bachelor stage” that can last several years either in solitary.Human hunters and leopards can also influence the movement patterns.Gorillas travel around 3 to 5 kilometres a day.Gorillas often follow seasonal patterns within their home ranges as it will follow availability of food.Gorillas are not territorial towards other gorillas.Travel in groups within their home ranges which can range from 8 to 45 square kilometres.
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