Gorilla

Description:

Gorillas are the largest extant species of primates. They are ground-dwelling, predominantly herbivorous apes that inhabit the forests of central Africa. Gorillas are divided into two species and either four or five subspecies. The DNA of gorillas is highly similar to that of a human, from 95-99% depending on what is counted, and they are the next closest living relatives to humans after the two chimpanzee species. Gorillas' natural habitats cover tropical or subtropical forests in Africa. Although their range covers a small percentage of Africa, gorillas cover a wide range of elevations. The mountain gorilla inhabits the Albertine Rift montane cloud forests of the Virunga Volcanoes, ranging in altitude from 2,200–4,300 metres (7,200–14,100 ft). Lowland Gorillas live in dense forests and lowland swamps and marshes as low as sea level, with western lowland gorillas living in Central West African countries and eastern lowland gorillas living in the Democratic Republic of the Congo near its border with Rwanda.

Habitat:

Bronx Zoo

Notes:

Funny thing happened at the Gorilla exhibit involving my two year old daughter! One of the juvenile Gorillas thought of her as a threat or maybe a playmate, because it came up to the plexiglas window and banged on it with both arms and then ran!! My daughter got scared and ran the other way too! It's been two weeks since and she still recites the story in her own way!! " Gorilla bang glass, Daddy!..I scared.. Run".. Wish I had the camera ready.. Did not get a shot of it..