Gorilla

Gorillas are the largest primate.  Even though they are sometimes portrayed as fierce in movies like KING KONG, they are actually peaceful, vegetarians who would only hurt a human if they felt threatened.  Gorillas are very intelligent and very loyal to their troop.  Females and infants usually sleep in nests in trees that they make for the night and the males will usually sleep somewhere on the ground.  Scientists disagree on how many sub-species of gorillas there are.  Most people talk about 3:  The western lowland gorilla, the eastern lowland gorilla, and the mountain gorilla.  But also there are very rare Cross River gorillas and some scientists consider the Bwindi gorilla a separate sub species as well.  Gorillas are critically endangered and their habitat is being destroyed by logging, mining, war, and humans taking over the space.  We must protect them or they could soon be extinct in the wild.  They are beautiful, intelligent creatures and many people who have been able to see them in their natural habitat find it changes how they see the world. 

Here is a link to a page which describes what gorillas look like and where they live

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/apes/

Here are some gorillas facts and an easy gorilla quiz

http://www.gorilla-haven.org/ghfunfacts.htm

Dian Fossey devoted her life to studying and helping mountain gorillas.  She was murdered because she fought with poachers and others who threatened the gorillas.  Here is a link to the Dian Fossey foundation

http://www.gorillafund.org/

A very famous gorilla who has learned to communicate using sign language is Koko.  Here is a link to a website about Koko and about helping gorillas.

http://www.koko.org/index.php

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