Eastern Lowland Gorillas are also called Grauer’s gorilla—is the largest of the four gorilla subspecies. It is distinguished from other gorillas by its stocky body, large hands and short muzzle. Despite its size, eastern lowland gorillas subsist mainly on fruit and other herbaceous materials, just like other gorilla subspecies.
Years of civil unrest in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have taken their toll on both the eastern lowland gorilla and the mountain gorilla. The eastern lowland gorilla makes its home in lowland tropical rain forests in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. There were nearly 17,000 eastern lowland gorillas in the mid-1990s but scientists estimate that the population has declined by more than 50% since then. An accurate accounting of the animals has been impossible for many years because of constant unrest in Democratic Republic of Congo.
Throughout the unrest, the gorillas have been vulnerable to poaching, even in Kahuzi-Biega National Park, home to the largest population of protected eastern lowland gorillas. Rebels and poachers invaded the park and people set up illegal mines. But, with help of the conservation organizations like WWF, Virunga National Park and Kahuzi-Biega National parks have been reestablished.
They are largely herbivorous and eat a wide range of plants, fruits, seeds, leaves, stems and barks as well as ants, termites and other insects
Eastern lowland gorillas are the largest on average of all gorilla subspecies
Males can weigh 250 kilograms and can reach two meters tall when standing
Did you know that you can visit the Eastern lowland gorillas in Congo? Most gorilla tours to Kahuzi Biega National Park start from Kigali Rwanda.