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.

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