Gorilla Gorilla Gorilla -- Western Lowland Gorilla at San Diego Zoo, California
by Darin Volpe
Title
Gorilla Gorilla Gorilla -- Western Lowland Gorilla at San Diego Zoo, California
Artist
Darin Volpe
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
It's surprising how often we see human features in the faces of other primates and imagine we know what they're thinking and feeling. The critically endangered Lowland Gorilla housed at the San Diego Zoo in California is no exception. As he sits by the waterfall in his troop's enclosure looking at the tourists, we project our own thoughts and emotions on the powerful beast that watches us. Is he curious about the small bipedal apes that pass by? Does he know that he is the reason the scrawny primates stand and gawk?
Western Lowland Gorillas (scientific name: gorilla gorilla gorilla) are native to the rainforests of west-central Africa. Although often portrayed as violent monsters, these 400lb creatures are actually quite gentle. They are peaceful, family-oriented, plant-eating animals who live in complex social groups, called "troops", which consist of between 5 and 20 gorillas led by a dominant male called a "Silverback." The chest-beating behavior usually associated with gorillas is mostly for show to frighten away younger males from other troops that may challenge the silverback.
Uploaded
August 12th, 2018
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