Smologies with Alie Ward GORILLAS with Tara Stoinski
Dec 4, 2025
In a captivating conversation, Dr. Tara Stoinski, a leading primatologist and CEO of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, shares her insights from over 30 years of studying gorillas. She reveals surprising facts about these creatures, including their unique social behaviors and the emotional depth they display, like laughter and grief. Tara breaks down their daily routines, peculiar diets, and the fascinating role of silverbacks. Listeners will be amused to learn about gorilla flatulence and the significance of their impressive canines, highlighting just how closely related we are.
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Four Gorilla Types And Their Status
- There are four wild gorilla types across equatorial Africa split into two species and two subspecies.
- All are critically endangered with widely varying populations from ~300 to ~300,000 individuals.
Nightly Nests And Chunky Nap Cycles
- Mountain gorillas build a new nest every night for thermoregulation in cold, high-elevation forests.
- Their daily routine alternates foraging and long rests, with adults sleeping while the young play.
Diet Shapes Group Structure
- Mountain gorillas live in a 'salad bowl' with abundant vegetation, allowing larger and more flexible group structures.
- Groups can host multiple adult males, unlike the typical single-silverback structure in other subspecies.
