Silverback gorillas live high in the mountains in two protected parks in Africa. They are also referred to as mountain gorillas. Silverback gorillas continually wander through their home ranges of 10 to 15 square miles, feeding and resting throughout the day. Adult male mountain gorillas are called Silverbacks because of the silver saddle of hair on their backs.

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Silverback gorillas weigh approximately 350 pounds- about twice the weight of normal adult man.  Gorillas are herbivores, and eat only plants. They spend most of their day foraging for food and eating bamboo and leafy plants

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Silverback gorillas were not even known to exist until 1902. Today their habitat is being destroyed when people use the land for farming and the trees for fuel. Gorillas are also killed by poachers and sometimes get caught in poacher’s snares meant for other animals. The Silverback Gorilla is the most endangered species of Gorilla. www.wildrepublic.com- The Scoop

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GORILLAS, share 98.3% of their DNA with humans, making them our closest cousins after chimpanzees and bonobos. They are charismatic, highly intelligent and often display emotions similar to our human experience.

 

POPULATION STATUS CRITICALLY ENDANGERED:There has been a population reduction of more than 80% over three generations of these animals (one generation is approximately 22 years). This listing is based on ongoing population losses due to illegal hunting, disease, habitat loss, and increased poaching with the expansion of access routes into forests. The Zaire Ebola virus also remains a highly significant threat.

 

Location: Africa, on the borders of Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo