Gorillas have opposable thumbs, like us

Another interesting fact about gorillas is that they have opposable thumbs, just like humans do! Gorillas can touch their thumbs to the tips of their fingers. 

Interestingly, few mammals have thumbs that can move and oppose their other fingers. Some examples are opossums, koalas, and panda bears. Only marmosets and tarsiers among primates have thumbs that can't oppose their fingers. 

Gorillas can grip and manipulate objects with dexterity. Like us, they utilize their opposable thumbs efficiently, adeptly grasping food, picking items, and cleverly using tools. This ability is crucial in their daily activities and helps them navigate their environment effectively.

Gorillas observe unique nesting behavior

Another interesting gorilla fact is that they construct nests on the ground or in trees to sleep at night. Each gorilla builds a nest using leaves and branches before sleeping3.

Most gorillas spend their nights in the ground like adult mountain gorillas, rarely sleeping on trees. Meanwhile, adult western lowland gorillas prefer not to reuse their sleeping spot. Gorillas search for food where it is abundant; they frequently change locations and leave their nests behind.

Gorilla nests help experts count gorilla populations because they are easier to see. These abandoned nests provide valuable information to researchers studying ape groups. 

Nest counts can help experts estimate population size. Adult apes have individual nests, while baby gorillas sleep with their mothers until age 3. Outside the nest, a young gorilla also learns important skills and behaviors necessary for survival during this time. Hair samples from nests assess personal health. Nest feces indicate food availability and identify ape species based on smell.

Gorillas are at serious risk of extinction

Gorillas are in grave danger. The Western gorillas, which include the Western lowland gorilla and Western cross river gorillas, are critically endangered. The Eastern Gorilla, with two subspecies, the Mountain and Eastern Lowland gorilla, recently went from Endangered to Critically Endangered because its population has declined by over 70% in just 20 years.

These gentle giants are battling significant threats. They're victims of widespread poaching and losing their homes due to chopping down forests for farming, mining, building development, and more. Meanwhile, poachers continue to hunt gorillas, while unstructured gorilla tourism can also affect mountain gorillas' behavior and health.

Moreover, these great apes are at risk of diseases due to their genetic similarity to humans2. Human diseases like Ebola can be transmitted to gorillas from humans or other animals, posing a significant threat and further endangering their populations.

Conservation organizations, park rangers, and committed local communities work tirelessly to conserve Mountain Gorillas and their habitats. Their work includes initiatives focusing on anti-poaching efforts, habitat preservation, educating local communities, and regulating ecotourism.

Several organizations, such as the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund  International and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), actively work towards conservation through research, education, and gorilla habitat protection. 

Share your favorite gorilla fact on your social media feeds, and remember to tag us!

Basil leafs

Basil is one of the plants that repel pests and flying insects. Its leaves contain four effective mosquito repellents - estragole, citronellal, nerolidol, and limonene. The fragrant herb is also very effective at repelling flea beetles, cabbage worms, tomato hornworms, ants, flies, and aphids.

Mint yree

Some plants from the mint family are insect-repelling plants. Spearmint and peppermint plants deter mosquitoes, spider mites, and flies, while pennyroyal mint repels fleas and ticks. These mint plants are a great addition to vegetable gardens and flower beds.

Chrysanthemums flowers

Chrysanthemums are plants that repel bugs like Japanese beetles, cockroaches, ants, spider mites, bedbugs, fleas, silverfish, lice, and harlequin bugs. Chrysanthemum is an effective mosquito repellent because it contains pyrethrum.

Alliums flowers

The allium family includes onions, chives, garlic, shallots, and leeks. An example of allium plants is the Allium giganteum, the giant onion, which grows up to six feet tall. It is a popular ingredient in Southeast Asian cooking. Allium plants repel pests like slugs, cabbage worms, carrot flies, Japanese beetles, aphids, ticks, and cabbage loopers.

Catnip leafs

Next on our list of plants that repel pests is catnip. Catnip is a member of the mint family that repels bugs but attracts cats. It contains a compound called Nepeta cataria, which deters mosquitoes and insects by triggering a chemical receptor that causes the sensation of pain or itching8.

Citronella grass

Citronella grass is a perennial grass native to the tropical areas of Asia. Farmers grow it commercially in Sri Lanka, Java, India, Indonesia, and Burma to produce candles, soaps, and insect repellents.

Marigolds the best flowers

Another plant that repels bugs is the marigold. Gardeners testify that the marigold effectively repels whiteflies in a tomato garden. However, until 2019, there was no scientific evidence to support this claim.

Gorillas have opposable thumbs, like us

Another interesting fact about gorillas is that they have opposable thumbs, just like humans do! Gorillas can touch their thumbs to the tips of their fingers. 

Interestingly, few mammals have thumbs that can move and oppose their other fingers. Some examples are opossums, koalas, and panda bears. Only marmosets and tarsiers among primates have thumbs that can't oppose their fingers. 

Gorillas can grip and manipulate objects with dexterity. Like us, they utilize their opposable thumbs efficiently, adeptly grasping food, picking items, and cleverly using tools. This ability is crucial in their daily activities and helps them navigate their environment effectively.

Gorillas observe unique nesting behavior

Another interesting gorilla fact is that they construct nests on the ground or in trees to sleep at night. Each gorilla builds a nest using leaves and branches before sleeping3.

Most gorillas spend their nights in the ground like adult mountain gorillas, rarely sleeping on trees. Meanwhile, adult western lowland gorillas prefer not to reuse their sleeping spot. Gorillas search for food where it is abundant; they frequently change locations and leave their nests behind.

Gorilla nests help experts count gorilla populations because they are easier to see. These abandoned nests provide valuable information to researchers studying ape groups. 

Nest counts can help experts estimate population size. Adult apes have individual nests, while baby gorillas sleep with their mothers until age 3. Outside the nest, a young gorilla also learns important skills and behaviors necessary for survival during this time. Hair samples from nests assess personal health. Nest feces indicate food availability and identify ape species based on smell.

Gorillas are at serious risk of extinction

Gorillas are in grave danger. The Western gorillas, which include the Western lowland gorilla and Western cross river gorillas, are critically endangered. The Eastern Gorilla, with two subspecies, the Mountain and Eastern Lowland gorilla, recently went from Endangered to Critically Endangered because its population has declined by over 70% in just 20 years.

These gentle giants are battling significant threats. They're victims of widespread poaching and losing their homes due to chopping down forests for farming, mining, building development, and more. Meanwhile, poachers continue to hunt gorillas, while unstructured gorilla tourism can also affect mountain gorillas' behavior and health.

Moreover, these great apes are at risk of diseases due to their genetic similarity to humans2. Human diseases like Ebola can be transmitted to gorillas from humans or other animals, posing a significant threat and further endangering their populations.

Conservation organizations, park rangers, and committed local communities work tirelessly to conserve Mountain Gorillas and their habitats. Their work includes initiatives focusing on anti-poaching efforts, habitat preservation, educating local communities, and regulating ecotourism.

Several organizations, such as the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund  International and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), actively work towards conservation through research, education, and gorilla habitat protection. 

Share your favorite gorilla fact on your social media feeds, and remember to tag us!

Basil leafs

Basil is one of the plants that repel pests and flying insects. Its leaves contain four effective mosquito repellents - estragole, citronellal, nerolidol, and limonene. The fragrant herb is also very effective at repelling flea beetles, cabbage worms, tomato hornworms, ants, flies, and aphids.

Mint yree

Some plants from the mint family are insect-repelling plants. Spearmint and peppermint plants deter mosquitoes, spider mites, and flies, while pennyroyal mint repels fleas and ticks. These mint plants are a great addition to vegetable gardens and flower beds.

Chrysanthemums flowers

Chrysanthemums are plants that repel bugs like Japanese beetles, cockroaches, ants, spider mites, bedbugs, fleas, silverfish, lice, and harlequin bugs. Chrysanthemum is an effective mosquito repellent because it contains pyrethrum.

Alliums flowers

The allium family includes onions, chives, garlic, shallots, and leeks. An example of allium plants is the Allium giganteum, the giant onion, which grows up to six feet tall. It is a popular ingredient in Southeast Asian cooking. Allium plants repel pests like slugs, cabbage worms, carrot flies, Japanese beetles, aphids, ticks, and cabbage loopers.

Catnip leafs

Next on our list of plants that repel pests is catnip. Catnip is a member of the mint family that repels bugs but attracts cats. It contains a compound called Nepeta cataria, which deters mosquitoes and insects by triggering a chemical receptor that causes the sensation of pain or itching8.

Citronella grass

Citronella grass is a perennial grass native to the tropical areas of Asia. Farmers grow it commercially in Sri Lanka, Java, India, Indonesia, and Burma to produce candles, soaps, and insect repellents.

Marigolds the best flowers

Another plant that repels bugs is the marigold. Gardeners testify that the marigold effectively repels whiteflies in a tomato garden. However, until 2019, there was no scientific evidence to support this claim.