Hello there! Let me introduce myself. I’m not a monkey; I’m an ape, and my name is Gorilla. We gorillas are the biggest apes in the world, but don’t let our size fool you—we’re very gentle and kind.
We gorillas love our families very much. A male gorilla lives with his female gorilla and other female friends. We enjoy sitting together to eat our meals. Guess what? We’re vegetarians! Our favorite foods are yummy berries, nettles, and leaves.
We have lots of fun playing together and grooming each other. Most of the time, we’re very calm, relaxed, and peaceful. But if someone tries to bother my family, I will try to scare them away because family is super important to us gorillas.
When I turn 12 years old, something special happens. The black hair on my back turns white, and that’s when you can call me a silverback. It’s like getting a special badge!
If you ever want to visit us gentle giants, you can find us in Africa. Just remember, if you come to see us, don’t stare at us. We like to be friends, and that’s a great way to start!
Thanks for learning about us, and remember, I’m not a monkey—I’m a gorilla! Bye for now!
Gorilla Family Tree: Create your own gorilla family tree! Draw a picture of a gorilla family and label each member. Think about what each gorilla might like to eat or do for fun. Share your drawing with a friend and explain why family is important to gorillas.
Vegetarian Feast: Plan a pretend meal for a gorilla using only vegetarian foods. Gather some toy fruits and leaves or draw them on paper. Arrange them on a plate and explain why these foods are healthy for gorillas. You can even try tasting some of these fruits and vegetables at home!
Gorilla Observation Journal: Spend some time outside and pretend you are a gorilla observing your surroundings. Write or draw what you see, hear, and smell. How do you feel being calm and relaxed like a gorilla? Share your observations with your class.
Thank you for the 100 millionth time! I am not a monkey; I’m an ape, and I’m called a gorilla. We gorillas are the largest apes in the world, but we’re still very gentle creatures. We gorillas love family. The male lives with his female gorilla and his other female companions. We like to sit down together to eat. We’re vegetarians, and our favorite dishes are berries, nettles, and leaves. We play together, groom one another, and most of the time, we’re very chilled, relaxed, and peaceful. But if someone messes with my family, I’ll try to scare them away because, for us gorillas, family comes first.
When I reach 12 years old, I lose all of my hair, and the black hair on my back will turn white. Then you’ll be able to call me a silverback. If you ever want to visit us gentle creatures, we live here in Africa. So if you want to come and see us, just remember: don’t stare at us, and we’ll be the best of friends. Bye now, and please don’t call me a monkey!
