How tall is the gorilla: all you need to know about gorilla height.
How tall is the Gorilla? Gorillas in Africa are highly coveted tourism attractions due to their physical characteristics and various attributes, as well as their status as an endangered species, which has drawn numerous tourists to engage in gorilla trekking in the region. Mountain gorillas are among the most frequently observed gorilla species by tourists globally. However, several other species are also available for viewing, including eastern lowland gorillas in Kahuzi-Biega National Park and Cross River gorillas. In Uganda, mountain gorillas can be encountered in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park, where gorilla trekking is offered. In Rwanda, visitors can engage in gorilla trekking at Volcanoes National Park and Virunga National Park, where they can spend one hour observing gorillas and learning about their behavior, social interactions, diet, reproductive patterns, and other intriguing characteristics of these primates in their natural habitat.
Gorillas are the largest primates, characterized by distinctive physical attributes that contribute to their stature. Their diet primarily consists of foliage, including wild celery, fruits, and bamboo shoots, with occasional consumption of invertebrates such as caterpillars, termites, and centipedes. On average, they consume approximately 18 kilograms of food daily, which contributes to their considerable strength; fully grown adult males weigh between 136 and 227 kilograms, while females weigh between 68 and 113 kilograms, rendering them quite a heavy species. The gorilla’s nutrition has significantly influenced its mass and height. Gorillas are robust primates characterized by broad shoulders and elongated arms relative to their legs. When bipedal, they can reach heights of 6 feet or more, distinguishing them as taller than various other primate species, including monkeys, chimpanzees, orangutans, golden monkeys, and vervet monkeys. At 14 years of age, an adult male gorilla can attain a height of 6.6 feet, surpassing the average human height of approximately 5.6 feet.
The height of gorillas is often disregarded due to their quadrupedal locomotion, which involves the use of their knuckles and feet. This is achieved by interlocking their forearm and wrist bones to support their weight, facilitating stable movement on all fours. Observing this behavior is a captivating experience, particularly during gorilla trekking in Africa. Nonetheless, one can observe the complete stature of gorillas, as they occasionally walk bipedally. This behavior is infrequently witnessed, as gorillas typically revert to quadrupedal locomotion after taking two or three steps upright.
However, they may walk upright when their hands are laden with fruit or when they need to survey their surroundings while traversing distances in search of food and shelter. Gorillas can be observed standing on their hind legs, which aids in determining their height during confrontations with other gorillas or when challenging humans, albeit such occurrences are few.
