Mountain Gorilla

endangered · Africa · gentle giants · rainforest

Lives in the mist. Mountain gorillas make their homes high up in the cloud forests of Central Africa, where it is cool, foggy, and lush. They live in small family groups on the steep, forested slopes of volcanic mountains.

Incredibly strong. Male mountain gorillas, called silverbacks because of the shimmering gray hair on their backs, can weigh up to 430 pounds and are about 6 times stronger than humans. Despite their power, they are calm and gentle with their own families.

Plant-eating friends. Mountain gorillas spend their days peacefully munching on leaves, stems, and plants like wild celery and nettles. They can eat up to 40 pounds of plants every single day.

Close family bonds. A gorilla family usually has between 5 and 30 members, led by one strong silverback male who protects everyone. The families stay together for life and have special relationships with each other.

Coming back strong. Mountain gorillas were nearly hunted to extinction, but thanks to dedicated scientists and park rangers protecting them, their numbers have grown from about 600 in the 1980s to over 1,000 today.