Social+Structures

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All gorillas beat their chests. This action in males may serve as a display of power or intimidation.

Gorillas live in troops of about 8 to 30 individuals under the lead of one older adult male. This alpha, or dominant, male often has a patch of silver hair on his back earning him the name "silverback". This male will lead the group through daily activities such as eating, nesting, and moving around their home range. A troops range covers about 3/4 to 16 square miles.

When the alpha male is challenged by another male, he may put on various displays of his physical power, including standing upright, throwing things, making aggressive charges, beating his chest, and roaring.

The troop includes other young males, females, and their young. Young gorillas (age three to six) spend their day chasing, climbing, and swinging from trees.

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A zoo educator talks about gorilla life in captivity. media type="custom" key="1205737"

The zoo educator talk repeated with an image. It's interesting that related "videos" appear at the end. media type="imeem" key="DvH-3A_Td0" height="390" width="460"

Sources

Animals. World Almanac for Kids. July 29, 2008 from http://elementary.nettrekker.com:80/tts/external.epl/http://www.worldalmanacforkids.com/WAKI-ViewArticle.aspx?pin=wwwwak-102&article_id=31&chapter_id=1&chapter_title=Animals&article_title=Gorilla

National Geographic Society, "Lowland Gorilla, Lowland Gorilla Profile, Facts, Information, Photos, Pictures, Sounds, Habitats, Reports, News - National Geographic". National Geographic Society. 7/29/2008 from <[|http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/lowland-gorilla.html> July 28, 2008]

Primates.com, "primates.com : great apes : gorillas". Primates.com. 7/29/2008 from 

Zoo Educator, Milwaukee County Zoo. Question response. 30 July 2008.