Mary Allen
Introduction: Gorillas and their Evolutionary Journey
Gorillas are one of the most fascinating and majestic creatures on the planet. They are the largest of all primates, with males weighing up to 440 pounds and standing over six feet tall. Their evolutionary journey can be traced back millions of years, from their common ancestor with humans and chimpanzees to their present-day existence in the forests of Central Africa.
Gorillas are divided into two species: the eastern gorilla and the western gorilla. The eastern gorilla is further divided into two subspecies, the mountain gorilla and the eastern lowland gorilla, while the western gorilla is divided into the western lowland gorilla and the Cross River gorilla. Despite their differences, all gorillas share common characteristics, including a vegetarian diet, a complex social hierarchy, and a close-knit family structure.
The First Encounter: Early European Explorers in Africa
The first recorded encounter with gorillas by Europeans occurred in the early 16th century, when Portuguese explorers sailed down the Congo River and reported seeing “wild men” in the forests. It wasn’t until the 19th century that more detailed descriptions of gorillas were provided by European explorers and missionaries, who encountered the apes in the forests of West and Central Africa.
One of the most famous early encounters with gorillas was by Paul du Chaillu, a French explorer who spent several years in West and Central Africa in the 1850s. He was the first person to provide a detailed description of gorillas, describing them as “terrifying animals” that were “more than nine feet tall, with enormous strength and ferocious teeth.” His descriptions helped to fuel the popular imagination of gorillas as savage beasts.