The largest ape today is not the legendary and monstrous King Kong, but the male gorilla, which grows to a height of 1.8 metres. Contrary to what people may think, gorillas are not ferocious carnivores. They are gentle apes who eat leaves, buds, stalks and bark.

The males have a distinctive whitish back, which give them the name ‘Silverback’. Usually, one dominant male lives in a closely-knit group, consisting of two to three females and young ones. Old males usually threaten rivals by standing straight and beating their chests, while roaring and occasionally tearing up and throwing plants.

These gorillas are mostly active during the day. They feed on plants through the day before they settle down for the night in nests made of twigs and leaves.

In true primate style, young gorillas under three years sleep with their mothers, while others sleep in separate nests. The largest apes in the world are found in the rain forests of Africa and face the danger of extinction.