Three distinct populations of Gorilla exist all within the general area of the central African rainforests. The western lowland is still relatively abundant, numbering around 100,000 majority in Gabon. The eastern lowland form in Zaire is much rarer with only 10,000 surviving where it is highly threatened by forest clearance. Then a further 300 - 400 are found in the Virunga volcano region of Rwanda and Zaire and in the Bindi forest of Uganda. These are Mountain Gorillas, few lost to poaching, and both they and their habitat will have to be subject to constant vigilance if they are to survive.

Gorillas rank among the most intelligent animals and are the largest of the Primates. This powerful animal has huge shoulders, a broad chest, long arms and short legs. A male Gorilla may weigh 205 kilograms with a height of 1.8 metres. It has a shiny black face and large canine teeth. A thick ridge of bone juts out above its eyes. Black or brownish hair covers all of a Gorilla's body, except its face, chest, and the palms of its hands and soles of its feet. The Gorilla walks leisurely on all fours, the soles of their feet and on their knuckles, but sometimes it climbs into a tree to sit, eat, or sleep. They hate to get wet and shelter under the trees. Gorillas are shy, friendly animals that need campanionship and attention. They lead a peaceful life, travelling through forests in groups of 2 to 30, always lead by an adult male Gorilla who also protects the group against danger. He makes the decisions, of when to get up in the morning, where to go, and when to rest, and never spending more than one night in the same place. During the early morning they feed on bamboo, fruit and succulent plants.

The adults then nap while the younger apes wrestle with each other, after the rest period all the Gorillas eat again. Before dusk the adult Gorillas build a simple nest to sleep and the baby gorillas snuggle in with their mothers. Female Gorillas mate when they are about 8 years old, the pregnancy lasts from 8 to 9 months. At first, the mother carries her baby by holding it gently to her chest. After three months, the baby rides on its mothers back, holding on to her long hair. When a Gorilla is excited or wants to frighten away intruders, it stands up on its legs and slaps its cupped hands against its chest one at a time. Gorillas have no real enemies except human beings. People hunt them for food, capture them for zoos, and cut down their forest homelands. The majestic, sensitive and perceptive Gorilla has become rare in many parts of its African home, and its survival is threatened.

The 'Lost City Collection' wildlife design painted by Jean Sindelar portrays the magnificent Mountain Gorilla amidst tropical foliage and bamboo with edible rich colored wild berries which they love to devour on a regular basis by Ro London. starruit

Lost City Collection