New Silverback Gorilla Painting

Silverback Gorilla Painting by Alan M Hunt

Silverback Gorilla Title tba Size 20" x 30" Price £12,000 Original painting for sale by Alan M Hunt

ORIGINAL PAINTINGS OF GORILLAS

Few animals have sparked the imagination of man as much as the gorilla, the largest of the living primates. Most gorillas live in inaccessible regions in various dense forests in tropical Africa, and one subspecies, the mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei), was not even known to science until 1902.

Original Gorilla Paintings by Alan M Hunt

Original Gorilla Paintings by Alan M Hunt SOLD

Gorilla Paintings
Original Gorilla Painting by Alan M Hunt

The mountain gorilla has a robust build with long, muscular arms, a massive chest, and broad hands and feet. It is the hairiest race of gorillas; its long, thick black hair insulates it from the cold of living at high elevations.

The world's remaining mountain gorillas live within four national parks, split in two regions that are 45 kilometers (28 miles) apart.

One population of mountain gorillas inhabits the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda. A census in 2003 recorded 340 gorillas here.

The second population of mountain gorillas is found in a mountainous region referred to as the Virungas, which includes Mgahinga Gorilla National Park (Uganda), Volcanoes National Park (Rwanda) and Virunga National Park (Democratic Republic of Congo). Approximately 380 gorillas are found in the Virungas.

More About Gorillas

Male Gorilla Painting SOLD

The Gorilla Original Painting by Alan M Hunt

Although strong and powerful, gorillas are generally gentle and shy. They live in groups of 2-40 individuals, averaging about 11. Groups are led by a dominant male, the silverback, named for the silvery gray hairs that grow when the male matures. The silverback serves as the chief leader and protector of the group, to whom all group members defer. He decides when and where to forage, rest and sleep, arbitrates disputes among his family members and protects them from rival silverbacks or human predators.

Mountain gorillas have a slow rate of reproduction. This slow reproduction makes this species even more threatened. In a 40-50 year lifetime, a female might have only 2-6 living offspring. Females give birth for the first time at about age 10 and will have offspring every four years or more. A male reaches sexual maturity between 10 and 12 years. Able to conceive for only about three days each month, the female produces a single young and in rare cases twins.

Newborn gorillas are weak and tiny, weighing about 4 pounds. Their movements are as awkward as those of human infants, but their development is roughly twice as fast. At 3 or 4 months, the gorilla infant can sit upright and can stand with support soon after. It suckles regularly for about a year and is gradually weaned at about 3.5 years, when it becomes more independent.

It is perhaps surprising that an animal as large and strong as the mountain gorilla is primarily an herbivore. Mountain gorillas eat over 100 different species of plants. They rarely need to drink since their diet is so rich in succulent herbs, from which they get their water.

The primary threat to mountain gorillas comes from forest clearance and degradation, as the region's growing human population struggles to eke out a living. The African Wildlife Foundation (AWF), in collaboration with Fauna and Flora International and World Wide Fund for Nature, established the International Gorilla Conservation Program (IGCP) to safeguard the last remaining mountain gorillas.

IGCP works on three levels: Strengthening gorilla habitat protection through regional collaboration, researching the dynamic between the human population and the natural habitat/wildlife, and working with local communities to develop livelihood strategies that are complementary to conservation objectives.

This coalition has been a tremendous success, but support is still greatly needed. The most endangered of the gorilla subspecies, only about 720 mountain gorillas remain in the wild.

Alan M Hunt Original Paintings of Gorillas

Prints of Gorillas For Sale

Gorilla Family Prints Available For Sale

Shop for many more Gorilla art decor prints, posters, throws, , duvet covers, bath towels, coffee mugs, phone cases and more designed by Alan M Hunt. Each exclusive Gorilla art product ships within 3 - 4 business days and includes a 30-day money-back guarantee. All available at Alan M Hunt's Animal Art Shop

Paintings of Gorillas

Study of Gorilla SOLD

Interesting Gorilla Facts

Key area: Virunga

Gorilla Paintings and Prints by Alan M Hunt

Scientific Name: Gorilla beringei beringei

Gorilla Size: Males: Up to 6 feet tall, standing. Females: Up to 5 feet tall.

Gorilla Weight: Males: 350 pounds. Females: 215 pounds.

Lifespan: 40-50 years

Habitat: Dense forest, rain forest

Diet: Herbivorous (vegetarian)

Gestation: About 8 1/2 months

Predators: Predominantly humans. Occasionally leopards.

Other Interesting Facts

There are only about 720 mountain gorillas left in the world.

Humans and gorillas are 98% genetically identical.

Male silverback gorillas can weigh 50-100 pounds more - and are about 10 times stronger - than the biggest American football players.

When the group is attacked by humans, leopards, or other gorillas, the silverback will protect them even at the cost of his own life.

Conservation Projects

Mountain Gorilla Conservation Fund

International Gorilla Conservation Programme

Young Male Gorilla Prints AVailable

GORILLA ART PRINTS ON PIXELS

You can buy gorilla prints featuring Alan M Hunt's gorilla art paintings on Pixels.
These gorilla wall art products make the perfect gifts for nature and animal lovers. Buy something unique with Alan's gorilla art prints available as acrylic, canvas, wood or metal prints with various mounts and bespoke sizes.