Western Lowland Gorilla

Description - The smallest of the three subspecies, the male western lowland gorilla weighs up to 160kg, reaches a height, when standing, of 5ft 6 inches and has a brownish-grey coat with an auburn crest. It is also distinguished from the Eastern gorilla by its nose which has a continuous heart shaped ridge around its nostrils. Like most gorillas, the western lowland gorilla sleeps at night on the ground in nests constructed from branches and leaves. Western lowland gorilla's home range is greater than that of the mountain gorilla making it notoriously harder to track and also habituate. Group sizes are also slightly less than its cousin and on average number about 5 individuals. Recent research has shown that the western lowland gorilla has the capacity to use tools (similar to the chimpanzee) and has been observed testing the depth of a river with a stick in an attempt to cross! (The Cross River Gorilla (a subspecies of the western lowland gorilla) only differs from the western lowland by skull and tooth dimensions. This subspecies is found on the border of Nigeria and Cameroon and is critically endangered. Approx 200 individuals remain.)Distribution - This subspecies lives in a range of forests covering Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, the Central Africa Republic, Nigeria and DRC.

Level of Protection - Endangered. Expected populations in the mid 90's reached 120,000, nowadays as a result of poaching and logging it is thought that there is a maximum of 90,000 that remain throughout the listed countries. Gabon with its untouched rainforest and small human population is thought to be home to the majority of western lowland gorillas.

Best Time to visit - Variable depending on whether visiting Gabon, CAR or Cameroon. Please contact us for more information.

Safaris available - World Primate Safaris offers safaris to see the Western Lowland Gorilla in Gabon, Central African Republic (CAR) and Cameroon. Please contact us for further information.