A fully grown male mountain gorilla, called a silverback because of the silver fur that grows on his back as he matures, can weigh up to 220 kilograms — about the weight of three adult humans! Despite their enormous size, silverbacks are calm, patient leaders who protect their family groups with great care.
Mountain gorillas live in family groups of around 10 to 30 individuals. Each group is led by a silverback who makes decisions about where to travel, when to rest and how to settle disagreements. Young gorillas play, wrestle, and chase each other just as children do — scientists say watching them play feels very familiar.
Baby gorillas are born weighing only about 1.8 kilograms — roughly the same as a bag of flour. They cling to their mothers' chests for the first months of life and ride on their mothers' backs once they grow a little bigger. They nurse until they are about three years old.
Mountain gorillas eat mostly leaves, stems, bark, berries and occasionally ants. They build a fresh sleeping nest on the ground or in low branches every single evening — a new bed every night! Scientists can track a gorilla family by following the trail of squashed vegetation and nests they leave behind.