Question 1

True or false: Adult male gorillas are called silverbacks because of the silver hair on their backs.

Accepted Answer

True. Mature male gorillas develop a distinctive patch of silver-gray hair on their backs as they age, which gives them the common name 'silverback.'

Question 2

True or false: Gorillas are naturally aggressive and will attack humans on sight in the wild.

Accepted Answer

False. Gorillas are generally shy and gentle; they only display aggression as a bluff when threatened, rarely attacking without provocation.

Question 3

True or false: Gorillas are primarily carnivorous, hunting small animals for most of their diet.

Accepted Answer

False. Gorillas are primarily herbivorous, feeding on leaves, stems, fruits, and bark. They may occasionally eat insects, but their diet is not carnivorous.

Question 4

True or false: Gorillas have unique nose prints, similar to human fingerprints, used for identification.

Accepted Answer

True. Each gorilla has a distinct pattern of wrinkles and ridges on its nose. Researchers use photographs of these nose prints to identify individual gorillas in the wild.

Question 5

True or false: Gorillas have unique nose prints, like human fingerprints, used for identification.

Accepted Answer

True. Each gorilla's nose has a distinct pattern of wrinkles and ridges, which researchers use to tell individuals apart in the wild.

Question 6

True or false: Gorillas are the only great apes that do not build sleeping nests each night.

Accepted Answer

False. Gorillas build fresh sleeping nests from leaves and branches every night, both on the ground and in trees.

Question 7

True or false: Gorillas share about 98 percent of their DNA with humans.

Accepted Answer

True. Genetic sequencing confirms that gorillas and humans share approximately 98% of their DNA, making them one of our closest living relatives after chimpanzees and bonobos.

Question 8

True or false: Gorillas are native to both Africa and Southeast Asia.

Accepted Answer

False. Gorillas are found only in the tropical forests of Africa, specifically in countries like Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. No wild gorillas exist in Asia.

Question 9

True or false: Gorillas are highly aggressive and frequently attack humans on sight.

Accepted Answer

False. Gorillas are generally shy, gentle animals. They avoid humans and only become aggressive if threatened or provoked. Attacks are extremely rare, and they are known for their calm nature.

Question 10

True or false: A silverback gorilla's back turns gray only after it becomes the dominant male of a group.

Accepted Answer

False. Silverbacks get their name from the gray hair on their backs that appears as they mature, typically around age 12, not just when they become dominant.

Question 11

True or false: Gorillas can live over 50 years in captivity.

Accepted Answer

True. The oldest known gorilla in captivity, a female named Trudy, lived to 63. Many gorillas in zoos regularly reach their 50s with proper care.

Question 12

True or false: Gorillas have been observed grieving and holding vigils for deceased group members.

Accepted Answer

True. Gorillas show complex emotional behaviors, including grooming and staying near dead companions, indicating grief similar to humans.

Question 13

True or false: Gorillas have black fur and pink skin, similar to humans.

Accepted Answer

False. Gorillas have dark skin, typically black or dark brown, not pink. While some individuals may have pinkish areas on their face, overall their skin is dark.

Question 14

True or false: Gorillas are known to use tools in the wild, such as sticks to measure water depth.

Accepted Answer

True. Wild gorillas have been observed using sticks to test the depth of water before crossing, showing advanced problem-solving skills.

Question 15

True or false: Gorillas are the only primates that construct sleeping nests.

Accepted Answer

False. Many primates, including chimpanzees, orangutans, and bonobos, also build sleeping nests. Gorillas build ground nests from leaves and branches, but they are not unique in this behavior.

Question 16

True or false: Gorillas can catch and transmit human colds and flu viruses.

Accepted Answer

True. Gorillas share about 98% of human DNA and are susceptible to many human respiratory illnesses, which can be deadly to them.

Gorilla Trivia Questions