Talk:Eastern lowland gorilla

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The Eastern lowland gorilla (Gorilla beringei graueri) also known as the Grauer's gorilla is a subspecies of eastern gorilla endemic to the mountainous forests of eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Eastern Lowland Gorilla is the largest of the four gorilla subspecies. Important populations of this gorilla live within the Kahuzi-Biega and Maiko National Parks and their adjacent forests, the Tayna Gorilla Reserve, the Usala forest and on the Itombwe Massif.

This subspecies is considerably larger and more robust in appearance than the western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla), having a longer body, longer teeth, a stronger jaw and a broader torso. They have jet black coats like the mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei), although the hair is shorter on the head and body. The male's coat, like that of other gorillas, turns silver at the back as the animal matures. There are many more western lowland gorillas than the eastern variety; compared to a possible total of over 100,000 western lowland gorillas, there are only about 4,000 eastern lowland gorillas in the wild, and only 1 female in captivity at the Antwerp Zoo in Belgium.

Habitat and ecology

Eastern lowland gorillas are predominantly herbivorous, eating mostly leaves. They live in lowland rainforests in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, with only 600 miles of forest away from the western gorillas, . In fact, the relatively minor differences between the eastern and western gorillas suggests recent divergence, . Specifically, it is believed that the gorillas diverged as a result of a montane forest bridge in the late Pleistocene either from west to east or the converse and later into higher altitudes of Virgunga, where characteristics resulting from colder weather evolved. The region inhabited by Eastern Lowland Gorilla has decreased from 8,100 square miles to 4,600 square miles in the past 50 years, . This primate species now occupies only 13% of its historical area. Barrier Reefs (talk) 22:22, 23 October 2012 (UTC)

They are known to eat only a few leaves from a single plant, allowing the plant to regrow. They will also eat fruit, seeds, bamboo shoots, and insects. Gorillas also engage in coprophagia; they eat their own feces, as well as the feces of other gorillas. Similar behavior has also been observed among chimpanzees. Such behavior may serve to improve absorption of vitamins or of nutritive elements made available from the re-ingestion of seeds.. Males can weigh 250 kilograms and can reach two metres tall when standing Barrier Reefs (talk) 22:22, 23 October 2012 (UTC)

Conservation and threats

The eastern lowland gorilla is threatened primarily from illegal hunting for bushmeat and the illegal pet trade. This primate is also threatened as a result of logging and mining of coltan. (Add link to coltan). Widespread artisanal mining activities (often controlled by rebel militias) are the major source of hunting pressure for gorillas and other wildlife. The eastern lowland gorilla is also suffering a range reduction in some areas due to an expanding human population. Furthermore, the eastern lowland gorilla is threatened by the presence of long term civil conflict and insecurity in eastern DRC.

Threats to the Eastern Lowland Gorilla's survival include: logging, mining, civil unrest and hunting, (WWF). Civil unrest in the Democratic Republic of Congo has resulted in a decline in Eastern Lowland Gorillas as well as mountain gorillas in this region. The region inhabited by Eastern Lowland Gorilla has decreased from 8,100 square miles to 4,600 square miles in the past 50 years, (WWF). This primate species now occupies only 13% of its historical area. Violence in the region has made research difficult, however, scientists have estimated that the population has decreased by more than 50% since the mid-1990's, (WWF). In the mid-1990's, the population was recorded to nearly 17,000 gorillas.

Thinking of adding subsections under Conservation and Threats: illegal hunting, deforestation, mining, civil unrest.

Link for mining would include those on coltan: WWF, BBC World News and journal articles. List of useful sources: Tuttle, Russell. 1990. “Apes of the World.” American Scientist 78 (2): 115-125.

Vogel, Gretchen. 2000. “Conflict in Congo Threatens Bonobos and Rare Gorillas.” Science 287 (5462): 2386-2387 Hoff, Michael. 1982. “The Gorilla.” Science 216 (4542): 171-172.

Polsenberg, Johanna. 2005. “Good News about Gorillas.” Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 3(9): 465.

Hart, Terese et. Al. 1997. “Conservation and Civil Strife: Two Perspectives from Central Africa.” Conservation Biology 11 (2): 308-314.

Male eastern lowland gorilla

size

size and stuff? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Halaqah (talk • contribs).

Some weight records added. --83.240.11.32 (talk) 18:39, 14 November 2008 (UTC)

infant?

is infant the proper term? Doesn't infant literally mean "unable to speak?" Aren't all gorillas infants?Hithisishal (talk) 03:38, 8 April 2008 (UTC)

'Infant' is indeed the proper term. While the LAtin root for the word does indeed mean "unable to speak", the English word does not have that meaning. See various dictionary entries for 'infant'. - UtherSRG (talk) 05:53, 8 April 2008 (UTC)

Images

Three suitable images from Flickr of the Eastern Lowland Gorilla are here, here and here. Cheers, Jack (talk) 14:46, 15 December 2008 (UTC)

The largest subspecies of the Gorilla

The Eastern Lowland Gorilla is slightly larger than the Mountain Gorilla and essential larger than the Western Lowland Gorilla. Full erectly a Silverback of the Eastern Lowland Gorilla would be roughly 6 feet 6 inches (2 m) tall, a Mountain Gorilla Silverback would be roughly 6 feet 3 inches (1,90 m) tall and a Silverback of the Western Lowland Gorilla would be until 5 feet 7 inches (1,70 m) tall. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 91.7.127.159 (talk) 15:47, 16 July 2010 (UTC)