Gorillas - Disney Animals

Guests can see our growing family (troop) of western lowland gorillas on the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail at Disney’s Animal Kingdom park.

Gorillas in the Wild
There are 2 gorilla species, western gorilla and eastern gorilla, and each has 2 subspecies—one that lives in the lowlands, one that lives at higher elevations. These awesome apes make their home in 8 countries across central and western Africa, typically in lowland tropical rainforests. Gorillas are the largest primates, with males weighing up to 450 lbs (204 kg) and standing up to 6 feet tall (2 m) when upright. The upper body strength of an adult male gorilla is 6 times more powerful than that of an adult human!

Gorillas are charismatic, intelligent, highly social animals. The gorilla habitats at Disney’s Animal Kingdom park are based on extensive research into the species’ natural history.

Gorillas in Our Midst
A lush and sprawling tropical forest—complete with hills, tall grasses, shade trees, rocks, shrubs, waterfalls, dead trees and stumps—provides opportunities for our troops of gorillas to rest, communicate, interact, hide and explore—just as they would in the wild. They enjoy a complex diet that includes over 100 different varieties of fresh plants, vegetables and fruits, plus vitamin and mineral supplements—and a specially formulated “primate chow.”

Popular food items are rotated daily to keep the animals guessing what will be on the day’s menu.

Animal Enrichment
Items like tubs, bags, blankets, toys and puzzle feeders are staged around the gorilla habitat at various times each day.

These enrichment tools are designed to increase the gorillas’ physical activity, stimulate their problem-solving abilities and offer them real choices, just like in the wild.

Heart Healthy
Heart disease can be a serious concern for zoo gorillas—just like humans. But how do you get a 450-pound silverback male to stand still for a cardiac exam? Through verbal cues, hand signals and special rewards like fruit, gorillas learn to present their chests to a special area for an echocardiogram, with the animal care experts only inches away—on the other side of a safety barrier, of course. Previously, heart exams required sedating the gorillas, which made the test results less accurate.

Disney’s pioneering veterinary work with gorillas has been adopted by other zoos—and incorporated into The Gorilla Health Project by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).

Reduce Waste
Recycle your old mobile devices, laptops, tablets and video game systems to reduce mining in gorilla habitats.

Follow the Story
Learn about great apes by watching the Disneynature film Chimpanzee, the true story of the young primate cousin of the gorilla.

Discover More
Check out these sites to find out more about how Disney is helping protect wildlife including gorillas and their natural habitats—and how you can make a difference:

• Disney Conservation Fund
• Disneynature