A testament to their high level of intelligence, wild Eastern Lowland Gorillas have been observed using simple tools to gather food, and have been taught to use sign language to create simple sentences in captivity.
Despite the research that has been done, little is known about the Eastern Lowland Gorilla due to years of violence and unrest in its native Democratic Republic of Congo. This has made it difficult for researchers to study these amazing primates.
Appearance
The Eastern Lowland Gorilla is the largest of the gorilla subspecies, with males measuring up …show more content…
Like other gorillas, the Eastern Lowland Gorilla is also known to eat small insects, like termites and ants, although they will also eat rodents and lizards on occasion.
The Eastern Lowland Gorilla has been observed traveling great distances in search of food, and utilizing simple tools to aid in its collection.
Behavior / Longevity
Eastern Lowland Gorillas typically live in groups that consist of a few mature adult males, one of whom is the troop’s leader, a few young males, and about ten females. They are generally docile, peaceful animals, although they will defend their troop against outside threats if necessary.
Like other gorilla subspecies, females only give birth every few years, as their young remain with them until around the age of 3.
Eastern Lowland Gorillas are highly expressive, and communicate with each other both vocally and by the use of physical cues, such as body language and facial expressions.
Threats
Habitat