How Do Gorillas Communicate?

Gorillas use a variety of sounds to communicate. They laugh; they purr to show they are contented or in agreement; they whimper or cry when saddened; they make a barking noise when they are annoyed; and they scream when angered. They can also hoot loudly enough to be heard at least 1⁄2 mile (0.8 kilometer) away. Beating their chest and baring their teeth are also ways of communicating. So is branch waving or tree shaking.

Gorillas in captivity have been taught to communicate with humans using sign language. In 1972, researchers at Stanford University in California began to teach sign language to a female gorilla named Koko. Koko learned to sign more than 800 words and to understand several thousand words of spoken English. Scientists have learned that even zoo gorillas that have never seen sign language are able to use sophisticated gestures to communicate.

A gorilla’s average day is what some people would call ideal. A gorilla has a morning meal, takes a nap, and travels in the afternoon. Most of a gorilla’s daylight hours are spent feeding or resting. As sunset approaches, a gorilla prepares for bedtime by making a nest.

Some gorillas build their nests on the ground. Others build them in trees. A gorilla’s nest is simple. It is made up of whatever leaves, grasses, and branches are nearby. A nest is not woven or layered, and it can be built in as little as two or three minutes. A nest is used only one time, because gorillas sleep in a different place every night. They are always on the move.

Adult gorillas climb trees only to reach fruit or leaves, to get a better view of something, or to sleep at night. Young gorillas climb more often than adults do. They play by climbing or swinging on branches and vines. They wrestle with one another, too.