Do gorillas eat meat?

Do gorillas eat meat? A significant number of travelers worldwide have pondered this issue, thus we have chosen to discuss it here. Let’s start with a basic question: what are gorillas? Gorillas are classified into two main species as members of the great ape family: eastern and western gorillas.

Western gorillas. Primarily thriving in the heavily forested regions of central Africa, western gorillas are the most common species of gorillas. The Cross River gorilla and the western lowland gorilla are the two subspecies that make up these gorilla groups.

 Eastern gorillas.Eastern gorillas are native to Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They are further split into two groups: mountain gorillas and eastern lowland gorillas, also referred to as grauers gorillas.

The four subspecies of gorillas.

Western lowland gorillas. The West and Central African countries of Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Gabon are a habitat to the western lowland gorillas. Male western lowland gorillas may attain an ultimate body weight of 120 kg. With over 350,000 of these gorillas remaining in the wild, they are thus the most common species. They are also common in zoos the world over considering their easy diet and great degree of adaptation.

Cross River gorillas.

 According to the 2006 study, Cross River gorillas are critically endangered as listed by the IUCN. The origin of their name is somewhat explained by the fact that Cross River gorillas typically live along riverbanks in woodland environments. They are native to regions of Cameroon and Nigeria with mountain forests.

Adult Cross River gorillas may attain a maximum weight of 440 pounds and a maximum length of 5 feet. Due to human activities such as poaching and encroachment on their land for towns and agriculture, they are the most threatened species. With only 350 Cross River gorillas remaining in the wild, it is critical that everyone concerned act quickly to protect and increase their population.

Eastern lowland gorillas (Grauer’s gorilla). This gorgeous kind of gorilla lives in the Itombwe Massif and Kahuzi Biega National Park in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Among all gorilla species, eastern lowland gorillas are the largest and are distinguished by their stocky build, bigger hands, and short noses.

They are the largest of all gorilla species; males may achieve a mass of 210 kg, while females can reach 76 kg. Their hair is short and they have black coats. IUCN studies rank them as the third most critically endangered species; only around 7500 of them are estimated to be in the wild.

Mountain gorillas.

There are chances to see mountain gorillas interact in the Virunga mountain ranges. They live in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda’s woodlands. Additionally, the normal home range of mountain gorillas is an altitude of about 8,000 to 12,000 feet above sea level. They are also well known for dwelling on the slopes of mountains, particularly in the bamboo woods.

The thick and long fur of mountain gorillas helps to partially explain their ability to endure the bitter cold of the Virunga mountains. There are just 1063 mountain gorillas left in the wild. Poaching and habitat destruction also pose a threat to them. 

Certainly, mountain gorillas can be trekked in Bwindi and the volcanic regions of Mgahinga National Park in Uganda. Virunga National Park in Congo and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda are other optional destinations to watch them.

Do gorillas eat meat?

It is worth mentioning that gorillas are capable of consuming meat when it is presented to them. This is demonstrated by the locked-in gorillas in zoos, who eat meat that is offered to them with irresistible pleasure.

It’s also critical to keep in mind that, except for a few species, notably western lowland gorillas, not all gorillas can be maintained in zoos.

Because mountain gorillas have a complex diet that can be difficult to maintain and because they are picky about their habitats, they cannot be housed in zoos. Additionally, termites, ants, fruits, plant stems, bamboo shoots, and various invertebrates are among the predominantly vegetarian delicacies that gorillas eat.