Featured Animal
Otto

Lowland Gorilla

Order : Primate
Family: Pongidae
Genus: Gorilla 
Species: Gorilla

Location: Found in tropical forests, swamp forests, clearings and forest edges within the Africa countries of Cameroon, Peoples Republic of Congo, Gabon, Central African Republic, and Equatorial Guinea
 
Diet: They feed more than 200 types of plants: fruits, stems, flowers, shoots, bulbs, bark, leaves, pith, as well as invertebrates such as termites and ants.

Social Behavior: The huge silverback is a tolerant father who baby sits for his offspring so the females can forage without the hindrance of playful young.

Interesting Facts: Otto came to the Sanctuary as a very sick baby Gorilla over 35 years ago.  He was nursed back to health by the Noell's and despite his illnesses, he has fully recovered and has grown into a large and happy silverback!

Status in Wild: Listed by USFWS as endangered and protected by CITES.