Carl Grimal, age 10, of Haggerstown, MD., for his question:
ARE GORILLAS FIERCE ANIMALS?
Gorillas are the largest of the anthropoid or manlike apes. A large male living in the wilds may weigh 450 pounds and stand six feet tall. Gorillas look as if they should be fierce animals, but they definitely are not.
When a gorilla is excited and wants to frighten away an intruder, he will stand on his hind legs and slap his cupped hands against his chest one at a time. This produces a sound somewhat like that of a drum. The action looks fierce but it is all bluff.
Gorillas are shy, friendly animals that seem to need companionship and attention. They will not attack unless molested or prodded.
Gorillas certainly look fierce. They have shiny black faces and large, pointed canine teeth. Thick ridges of bone jut out above their eyes and there are also ridges of bone on top of their skulls.
Even though they can make about 20 different sounds, gorillas are quiet animals. The most startling gorilla call is the roar given by an angry male. But usually they only whimper a bit and make grumbling or even purring sounds.
The gorilla also has what might be considered a fierce looking walk. He walks on all fours, with his feet flat on the ground and the upper part of his body supported on the knuckles of his hands. He will often stand on his legs but he will only walk a few feet in this upright position.
Gorillas lead peaceful lives. They travel through forests in groups of from two to 30. An adult male always leads the group. He makes the decisions, such as when to get up in the morning, where to go and when to rest. He also protects the group against danger.
Lowland gorillas live in the forests of western Africa from Nigeria south to the Congo. Mountain gorillas live in the eastern part of Zaire and in western Uganda. Others make their homes in the rain forests of Central Africa.
A gorilla's pregnancy lasts for from eight to nine months. A newborn baby weighs from three to five pounds at birth and is helpless for many months. The baby stays with the mother for about three years.
At first, the mother carries the baby by holding it gently to her chest. After about three months, the baby is strong enough to hold on by itself. Then the baby may even ride on its mother's back, holding on to her long hair.
The baby gorilla is able to crawl by the age of three months and walk by about five months. It usually rides piggy back with its mother until it is three years old.
It is believed that gorillas reach adulthood when the female is about seven years of age and when the male is about 10. We don't know how long they live in the wilds, but the record for a zoo gorilla is 34 years. Most wild gorillas probably do not live this long.
Gorillas lack the outgoing personalities of their relatives, the chimpanzees, and they do not readily learn to perform tricks and stunts.