The gorilla

📖 In short

The gorilla is the biggest ape in the world, a very strong animal with huge shoulders, a broad chest and long arms. Gorillas live in the forests of Central Africa. Despite their great strength, they're usually calm, gentle plant-eaters.

🤩 Did you know?

A big male gorilla weighs about 200 kilograms and can be 1.8 meters tall standing up.
A newborn gorilla weighs between 1.5 and 2.3 kilograms.
Every night a gorilla builds a new nest of leaves to sleep in.
Gorillas walk on their feet and on the knuckles of their hands.

🔎 Find out more

🌟 The head of the family

Gorillas live in families led by a big male called a “silverback”, because the hair on his back turns silvery grey with age. He protects the family and decides where it goes and sleeps.

🔍 A big plant-eater

Gorillas eat leaves, stems, fruit and roots, and need to eat a huge amount every day to fill their enormous bodies.

💡 Beating the chest

When a male gorilla wants to scare an enemy or show his strength, he stands up and beats his chest with his hands, making a loud sound that can be heard far away.