For the most part, gorillas are herbivores, meaning they rely on plants for nutrition. They consume a variety of plant species, including leaves, stems and roots to meet their dietary needs.
Mountain gorillas, found mainly in the Virunga Volcanoes national park, rely heavily on fibrous vegetation like thistles, nettles and bamboo shoots.
Western lowland gorillas, however, live in forests that provide a different selection of food. Unlike mountain gorillas, they eat more fruit when it’s available, making up a significant portion of their diet.
While gorillas don’t rely on hunting, their diets are rich in diverse plant matter, giving them plenty of energy for their daily activities.
Backup Feeding Habits
In rare cases, gorillas have also been observed to prey on small animals and insects when their preferred food source is scarce.
However, the jungle environments like those occupied by western lowland gorillas tend to be rich in all kinds of edible vegetation, so the apes remain classified as herbivores.
