Faces of the Forest: Portraits of Eastern Mountain Gorillas
Classified as critically endangered, gorillas, the largest of the great apes, share 98.3% of their DNA with humans, making them our closest cousins after chimpanzees and bonobos. They are highly intelligent and are similar to humans in their ability to communicate, express emotions, and in their social and reproductive habits.
They live in family groups called troops with an average size of five to 10 gorillas, occasionally up to 50. Young gorillas remain with the troop until they mature (males 11 yrs, females yrs average), at which point all of the males and around 60% of the females move to new troops to prevent inbreeding. Troops are led by a polygamous male, the “silverback”. Females are fertile once a month, have an eight to nine month gestation, and give birth to one infant. Mothers care for their offspring for several years before becoming pregnant again – usually every four to six years.
There are two species of gorillas, each with two subspecies: eastern lowland gorillas, eastern mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei), western lowland gorillas, and western Cross River gorillas (Gorilla gorilla). Both species are separated by 560 miles of the Congo basin forest. The eastern gorillas are found in Rwanda, Uganda, and the Republic of the Congo. Western gorillas live in the arc of countries from Angola to Nigeria.
This exhibit features eastern mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) photographed in Southern Uganda in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga National Park. In danger of extinction, there are less than 1,000 left.
Strength and Serenity$3,000.00
Rokundo$3,000.00
The Watchful Mother$3,000.00
Vigilance$3,000.00
The Guardian$3,000.00
Curious Innocence$3,000.00
Mother's Embrace$3,000.00
Contemplation$3,000.00
Elder Wisdom$3,000.00
In the Heart of the Jungle$3,000.00
A Mother's Devotion$3,000.00
Snack time$3,000.00
Rooted in Strength$3,000.00
The Faces of the Forest$3,000.00
The Gentle Giant$3,000.00