Facts about Eastern Lowland Gorillas

1. 07

   A single eastern lowland gorilla troop can require a home range of 20 to 40 square kilometers to find sufficient food across their rainforest habitat.

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2. 06

   In 2016, genetic analysis revealed that eastern lowland gorillas diverged from western lowland gorillas approximately 1.6 million years ago during the Pleistocene epoch.

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3. 05

   Gestation periods lasting approximately 8.5 months allow female eastern lowland gorillas to give birth to single infants that remain dependent on their mothers for up to four years.

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4. 04

   Social groups of eastern lowland gorillas typically consist of 5 to 30 individuals led by a single dominant silverback male who protects and makes decisions for the entire family unit.

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5. 03

   Knuckle-walking eastern lowland gorillas spend approximately 30 percent of their daylight hours foraging for fruits, leaves, and vegetation across the Congo Basin rainforest.

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6. 02

   The Virunga Mountains in Central Africa are home to the only remaining wild population of eastern lowland gorillas, numbering fewer than 5,000 individuals.

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7. 01

   Weighing up to 430 pounds, male eastern lowland gorillas are the largest subspecies of gorilla in existence today.

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