western lowland gorilla

American  

[wes-tern loh-luhnd guh-ril-uh] / ˈwɛs tərn ˈloʊ lənd gəˈrɪl ə /

noun

1. a black, primarily herbivorous, nonterritorial gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla ), a subspecies of the western gorilla and the smallest of all gorilla subspecies, living in a variety of central African habitats, especially the swamp forests of Democratic Republic of the Congo: listed as critically endangered, it is the only gorilla subspecies to live and breed in zoos.

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Etymology

Origin of western lowland gorilla

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

Guests can see the new western lowland gorilla infant and the family troop at Campo Gorilla Reserve.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 2, 2025

“We are overjoyed to welcome a new infant to our western lowland gorilla troop,” said Becky Malinsky, curator of primates at the zoo.

From Washington Times • May 31, 2023

Our closest evolutionary relatives - chimpanzees and bonobos - were included, along with the western lowland gorilla and Sumatran orangutan.

From Reuters • Apr. 27, 2023

Calaya, a 20-year-old western lowland gorilla, is expecting her second baby gorilla between late May and early July.

From Washington Post • Mar. 27, 2023

A critically endangered western lowland gorilla has died in captivity aged 54, it has been announced.

From BBC • Jan. 6, 2023