Gorillas

The gorilla is the largest of all of the primates. Visit Myombe Reserve® for an up-close look into the lush forest home of Busch Gardens® Tampa Bay’s gorillas and chimpanzees. Here, you’ll see the great ape’s natural behaviors like how gorillas construct “beds” of vegetation to sleep on at day’s end.

Just like humans, gorillas have 32 teeth, individualized fingerprints and toe prints, opposing thumbs and even nails instead of claws!

Q: How did the Gorilla’s get the name silver backs?

BG: Grown males develop silver-gray saddles across their backs and upper thighs, earning them the name silver back.

Q: What do Gorilla’s eat?

BG: Gorillas eat mainly plants including their leaves, stems and roots. Since vegetation has relatively low nutritional quality they must consume a large quantity. An adult male gorilla may consume more than 18 kg (40 lb) of vegetation per day.

Q: How long do Gorilla’s live?

BG: Gorillas live an average lifespan of about 35 years in the wild but, in controlled habitats like Busch Gardens® Tampa Bay they may live up to 50 years.