Gorillas

Gorillas are the largest primates in the world. They live in the forests of central Africa. Despite their big size, gorillas are gentle and peaceful animals. They are very closely related to humans and share about 98 percent of our DNA.

Family Groups

Gorillas live in family groups led by a large male called a silverback. He gets his name from the silver-colored hair on his back. The silverback makes decisions for the group, like where to eat and sleep. Baby gorillas ride on their mothers' backs.

Smart Apes

Gorillas are very intelligent. They make and use simple tools. Some gorillas in captivity have learned sign language to communicate with humans. In the wild, gorillas build a new sleeping nest from branches and leaves every single night.

Fun Facts

• Gorillas share about 98% of their DNA with humans.
• A male gorilla can weigh up to 400 pounds.
• Gorillas beat their chests to communicate, not to be aggressive.

Did You Know?

A gorilla named Koko learned over 1,000 signs in sign language and could understand about 2,000 words of spoken English!