The largest of all primates, the western lowland gorilla has
the erroneous reputation for being a ferocious, aggressive beast. Even though
an adult male can weigh up to 500 pounds and stand up to 6 feet tall, gorillas
are the most docile of apes and are generally shy and peaceful. Found in
the dense jungles of west Africa, gorillas spend the majority of their days
foraging for food. In the wild, lowland gorillas feed on over 100 species
of plants, eating mainly fruit.
Gorillas primarily live in highly developed groups, called troops, led by
a dominant male called a silverback. The distinctive patch of gray hair
on his upper back develops with sexual maturity, around the age of eleven.
The silverback determines when it is time for the troop to eat or sleep
and when it is time to travel. He is also responsible for protecting and
defending the troop.
LPZ's Gorillas:
Individual Biographies
FRANK
Born: 1964 estimated
Birthplace: Cameroon, Africa
Home at Lincoln Park Zoo: Lester E. Fisher Great Ape House
Frank was donated to Lincoln Park Zoo on May 17, 1966 by Franklin Schmick,
a former Chicago Park District Commissioner. He weighed 17 pounds and was
raised in the Children's Zoo nursery before moving to the Primate House
and later, the Great Ape House. Today, Frank tops the scales at 315 pounds.
He is the father of five and, like an adult silverback in the wild, he is
responsible for keeping order in his troop, breaking up fights and protecting
the young.
DEBBIE
Born: 1966 estimated
Birthplace: Africa
Home at Lincoln Park Zoo: Lester E. Fisher Great Ape House
Debbie was donated to Lincoln Park Zoo on July 10, 1966 by Franklin Schmick,
former Chicago Park District Commissioner. She was raised in the Children's
Zoo nursery before moving to the Primate House and later, the Great Ape
House. Although she has never produced offspring of her own, she has acted
as a foster mother or "aunt" for half a dozen young gorillas.
Each of these youngsters was separated from its mother due to medical reasons
and hand-raised. Typically within a year or two, zoo staff begin the process
of reintroducing a young gorilla back into a troop. Reintroductions can
be made easier and safer if the young gorilla is first adopted by Debbie
who, in her role as a foster mother, watches and protects the young gorilla
as if it were her own.
KUMBA
Born: 7/22/70
Birthplace: Lincoln Park Zoo
Home at Lincoln Park Zoo: Lester E. Fisher Great Ape House
Kumba was the first gorilla born at Lincoln Park Zoo. She was hand-raised
at the Children's Zoo nursery because zoo staff feared her mother Mumbi
was not providing adequate care. Today, every effort is made to leave gorilla
babies with their mothers unless a life-threatening medical condition occurs.
Kumba is now a mother of two and grandmother to Joe who lives at Cleveland
Metroparks Zoo.
|BIRDS| |MAMMALS|
|REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS|
| Back to Main Menu |
Please check back...we will be adding more
gorilla profiles regularly.