Also referred to as Gorilla Beringei, Eastern Gorillas are critically endangered species of the genus – Gorilla. These creatures are so far the largest living primate species and currently categorized into two sub-species (eastern lowland gorillas and mountain gorillas). They have large heads, wide chests, flat noses with large nostrils, long arms as well as bald hands, breasts, face and feet.
Eastern Gorillas live in the Tropical rainforests of East and Central Africa and divided into Eastern lowland Gorillas / Grauer’s gorillas (scientifically referred to as Gorilla beringei graueri) as well as Mountain gorillas (scientifically known as Gorilla beringei beringei). Of the two sub-species, the former are more populous; their total number is approximately 3800 gorillas while the latter are fewer with only about 1000 individuals surviving in East and central regions of Africa.
The beautiful and large Eastern Gorillas are currently threatened by illegal hunting, as mentioned by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. An average fully grown male Eastern gorilla weighs between 140 and 205 kilograms and has standing height of 1.7 meters.
Eastern lowland gorillas.
Also known as Grauer’s gorilla, the Eastern Lowland Gorilla is so far the largest of all gorilla sub-species in addition to being the largest living primates. These Great Apes are only found in the mountainous rainforests of Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo with large populations found in Kahuzi-Biega and Maiko National Parks as well as other proximate forests such as Itombwe massif, Usala forest and Tayna Gorilla Reserve among others.
Just like their counterparts, Eastern lowland gorillas are characterized by black coasts although theirs is shorter on the head and body. Mature male gorillas have grey saddle on their backs. Besides their natural habitats, the only Eastern lowland gorilla in captivity is found only in Belgium’s Antwerp Zoo.
A fully grown up male weighs from 150 to 209 kilograms while females can reach up to 100 kilograms. These creatures spend more hours foraging on vegetation each day and live in stable families of 5-30 individuals, surprisingly live in larger groups that the western gorillas.
In terms of habitats, these Great Apes occupy the mountainous, transitional and lowland Tropical rainforests. Interestingly, the gorilla population in Kahuzi-Biega National Park occupies the higher slopes of Kahuzi and Biega Mountains characterized by moist woodland, cyperus swampland and peat bogs among others. For visitors who wish to trek these gorillas can organize gorilla tours to the spectacular 6000-square kilometer Kahuzi-Biega National Park in the Eastern part of the country.
Mountain Gorillas
These are also known as Gorilla beringei beringei and live within the Tropical forests, high on the slopes of Virunga Chain Mountains and Bwindi impenetrable forest in southern Uganda. These sub-species of Eastern Gorillas are categorized as endangered under IUCN Red List with a total population of about 1063 individuals.
Mountain gorilla population is divided into two – one population occupies the forested slopes of Virunga Mountains within three National Parks of Virunga in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda as well as Mgahinga Gorilla National Park of Uganda. The other population of mountain gorillas is found in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in southern Uganda.
Mountain gorillas have darker, thicker and longer fur to make them adapt easily to the cold temperatures of their natural habitats, which sometimes even drop to freezing point. They are slightly smaller than Eastern lowland gorillas with grown-up males weighing between 120 and 190 kilograms while females weight varies between 70 and 98 kilograms.
Additionally, adult male mountain gorillas have more protruding bony crests at the top and back of their skulls hence creating a more conical shape while that of females are less protruding.
These gorilla sub-species are primarily land animals and move on four limbs, although sometimes climb fruiting trees as long as branches can carry their weight. Like most Great Apes, mountain gorillas have longer arms than legs. Just like Eastern lowland gorillas, mountain gorillas are diurnal as they are always active during daytime, spending the largest time of the day foraging in bulk. They are herbivore with their diet mainly comprising of fruits, stems, barks, bamboo shoots, leaves, flowers and sometimes small invertebrates.
They also live in relatively stable groups of 5-30 members, headed by a dominant silverback. Other members of a typical gorilla family are subordinate males, Alpha females, juveniles, blackbacks and infants. Mountain gorillas are currently trekked in four national parks of three countries with permit prices going for $1500 in Rwanda, $700 in Uganda and $400 in the Democratic Republic of Congo (as of August 2021).
