Mountain gorillas are strong, with long muscular arms and a big chest. They have thick black hair that protects them from the cold in high mountain areas. Although they are very strong, mountain gorillas are shy animals. They normally don't attack humans.
During the 40 to 50 years that a female lives she gives birth to two to six babies. The first baby is born when she is about eight or ten years old. She then has further babies every three to four years. In most cases single gorillas are born, but she sometimes gives birth to twins. They need about 30 kilograms of vegetation every day to survive. They also eat insects but rarely drink water because there is enough moisture in the plants.
Life for mountain gorillas, however, is not peaceful. More and more people are moving to live in the rain forests. There they cut down trees to get more farmland, and build roads and settlements. The habitat of mountain gorillas is getting smaller and smaller. Gorillas are also threatened by poachers, who sell their babies to zoos. It is believed that there are only about 600 mountain gorillas left.
There are always wars and other conflicts going on in these countries. A lot of soldiers often hide in the rain forests where the gorillas live. Still many Africans are working hard to keep them safe. The African Wildlife Foundation has developed a conservation program to save the last mountain gorillas.
A. They are endangered in many ways.
B. Female mountain gorillas have a few babies.
C. However, it will climb into fruiting tree if possible.
D. As for food, mountain gorillas mainly live on plants.
E. It is difficult for us to protect those mountain gorillas.
F. Playing helps them how to behave within the group.
G. A large male gorilla may reach a height of almost 2 meters.
