Reproduction
Gorillas are one of the only animals that are known to engage in different sexual positions like humans do. It takes about 8 ½ months from conception for the gorilla to give birth. It is almost always just one at a time but there are some rare cases of twins as well noted. They are from 4 to 4.5 pounds at birth.
Gorilla males are ready to mate when they are approximately 15 years of age. For females it is about 8 years of age. There isn’t a mating season and they can take part in this activity any time of the year.
Male offspring will remain part of the troop with their mother until they are approximately 11 years of age. At that point they will venture out on their own, often joining with other bachelors.
They females will leave their troop about 10 years of age and venture alone until she finds a troop with a dominant male that will let her in. All of this is part of nature’s way of preventing inbreeding from taking place within the troops. When a female is ready to mate she will give off an odor that the males will pick up on.
The lifespan is between 30-50 years, although some have lived longer in captivity.
Gorilla males are ready to mate when they are approximately 15 years of age. For females it is about 8 years of age. There isn’t a mating season and they can take part in this activity any time of the year.
Male offspring will remain part of the troop with their mother until they are approximately 11 years of age. At that point they will venture out on their own, often joining with other bachelors.
They females will leave their troop about 10 years of age and venture alone until she finds a troop with a dominant male that will let her in. All of this is part of nature’s way of preventing inbreeding from taking place within the troops. When a female is ready to mate she will give off an odor that the males will pick up on.
The lifespan is between 30-50 years, although some have lived longer in captivity.