Gorilla vs. Chimpanzee: What is different in similar-looking wild beasts
Image: National Geographic
At a glance, gorillas and chimpanzees might seem like cousins in the jungle, both wild, powerful, and undeniably close to humans in appearance. But beyond their shared DNA and forest homes lies a fascinating tale of contrast.
While they may belong to the great ape family and even share over 98% of their genetic code with us, gorillas and chimpanzees live drastically different lives. From how they raise their young to how they solve problems, these wild beasts are more than just similar-looking creatures, they are entirely unique characters in the animal kingdom.
Difference in size and appearance of
Gorilla
and
Chimpanzee
Gorillas are the largest primates on Earth, with adult males weighing between 300 to 430 pounds and standing over 5.5 feet tall when upright.
Their sheer muscle mass, barrel-like chests, and prominent crests on their skulls give them an intimidating presence. Covered in dark, coarse hair, mature male gorillas develop a silver "saddle" on their backs, which earns them the name 'silverback.'
Chimpanzees, in contrast, are much smaller and lighter, typically weighing between 70 to 130 pounds and standing about 3 to 4 feet tall. Their limbs are long and lean, perfectly suited for life in the trees.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
They Lost Their Money - Learn From Their Lesson
Expertinspector
Click Here
Undo
Chimpanzees have expressive faces, prominent ears, and more visible facial features, often making them appear more "human-like" in emotion and expression.
Social lives: Powerful gorilla vs. political chimpanzee
Gorillas live in tight-knit family groups led by a dominant male known as a silverback. His role is protector, decision-maker, and peacekeeper. These groups are often peaceful, with a strong emphasis on stability and care, especially for young members.
Chimpanzees, on the other hand, live in dynamic communities that often split and merge, a style known as "fission-fusion."
Their social lives are full of alliances, rivalries, and even political maneuvering. Chimpanzee males often compete aggressively for dominance, and their interactions can mirror human-like power struggles.
Diet and dining habits differences
Gorillas are primarily herbivores, consuming large amounts of leaves, stems, and fruits. Their strong jaws and large guts are adapted to digest tough vegetation, and they spend most of their day foraging quietly.
Chimpanzees have a more varied diet. They eat fruits, seeds, insects, and even hunt smaller animals. Their occasional meat consumption and cooperative hunting behaviour are particularly notable, showing a level of strategy and teamwork rarely seen in the animal world.
Tool use and intelligence
Chimpanzees are the Einstein of the wild. They have been observed using sticks to fish for termites, leaves as sponges, and even stones to crack nuts.
Their ability to learn, adapt, and teach tool use to younger generations speaks to a high level of cognitive ability.
Gorillas, while intelligent, are less frequent tool users. In the wild, their need for tools is limited by their strength and the relatively passive nature of their food. However, in captivity, they show impressive problem-solving skills and memory.
Temperament: Gentle giants vs. fierce thinkers
Despite their massive size, gorillas are generally calm and gentle unless provoked.
They prefer avoiding conflict and are deeply nurturing, especially among mothers and infants.
Chimpanzees can be surprisingly aggressive, even violent. They have been known to engage in territorial battles and infanticide. Their intelligence is coupled with emotional complexity, making them unpredictable, both charming and dangerous.
While gorillas impress with their strength and dignity, chimpanzees fascinate with their intelligence and complexity. Both species are endangered and deserve our protection, not just because they are our closest relatives, but because they reveal how diverse life can be, even within one biological family. Watching them is like peering into a mirror of our own evolution, one reflection showing calm power, the other cunning wit.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
12 minutes ago
- Time of India
Stillness As An Instrument, Not An Indulgence
In measuring our worth by activity and productivity, we often sacrifice the joys of 'being' to pressures of 'doing'. We seek fulfilment in motion rather than presence, so much so that stillness evokes discomfort and fear. We feel anxious to the point of questioning our purpose when we are not actively producing or consuming. This makes it critical to remember that our essence is not the same as our output. The Dalai Lama averred, "We are human beings, not human doings." The upanishads explain our true Atman, Self, as suddha-chaitanya, pure consciousness . "Atma va are drastavyah srotavyo mantavyo nididhyasitavyah," says the Brhadaranyaka Upanishad, suggesting the Self must be seen, heard, reflected and meditated upon. "Tat tvam asi," declares the Chandogya Upanishad. "You are That. Not your output. Not your roles. But That: undivided, luminous awareness. That is the finest essence - this world has that as its soul." The Isha Upanishad instructs, "In activity, you should desire to live a hundred years, but only if these activities are not binding." Our fundamental nature is not that of a doer, but of a witness, defined by the awareness informing our experiences. The Mandukya Upanishad speaks of turiya, the fourth state of consciousness, transcending waking, dreaming and deep sleep. "Not inward-knowing, not conscious, not unconscious," is the still, silent witness that is. Stillness is not about desisting from action but about ensuring that the constant flow of doing does not dictate our deepest identity. Yet, we are increasingly averse to it. With our growing tendency to fill even the briefest of lulls in our lives with digital distractions, it is remarkable how our present bears out philosopher Blaise Pascal's observation that "all of humanity's problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Stillness can dredge up emotions, fears, doubts and dilemmas bred by neglected, unprocessed questions of meaning, purpose and mortality. But resorting to 'busyness' as an escape hardly ever delivers the sustainable well-being we crave. As Christian mystic Meister Eckhart put it, "The soul does not grow by addition but by subtraction." This is where the Upanishadic definition of Self as consciousness comforts and liberates. Expanding our view of ourselves as witnesses enables us to place our activities in perspective without being consumed by them. The Bhagwad Gita counsels, "To action alone hast thou a right, but never to its fruits," paving the way for action and inner freedom to coexist; for us to be fully present and committed to our actions without tying our self-worth, peace and identity to whether things go the way we hoped. True meditation , contemplation teacher Adyashanti explains, is not about mastering a technique but about letting go of control; the most radical aspect of being is not a result of effort but surrender. Studies show that when we are focused on being aware without trying hard, the parts of our brain that usually think about 'self' are quieter, while the parts that make us feel present and peaceful, effortless awareness, become more active. This is the dimension of being that we should start reclaiming, not to shy away from our responsibilities, but to power them. "Muddy water is best cleared by leaving it alone," said philosopher Alan Watts. Authored by: Harsh Kabra Why Arjun Was Chosen: The Untold Secret of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4, Verse 3
Time of India
35 minutes ago
- Time of India
Open air theatres to be set up in teacher training insts
Lucknow: Taking a cue from India's greenest village Khonoma in Nagaland, a team of experts from UP's State Council of Educational Research and Training has decided to set up open-air theatres in District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs). DIETs are academic institutions that play a crucial role in teacher education and training at the elementary level. The idea is to have vibrant hubs in DIETs that offer a unique setting for cultural performances, academic gatherings and student celebrations. According to SCERT joint director Pawan Sachan, this open space will be beyond classrooms and will foster creative expression in teaching and learning. "It will be an open-air circular learning space where trainees can participate in activities like meditation, discussions, yoga and reflection. It will be designed sustainably with natural materials and will be environmentally friendly," Sachan said. This circular space will have separate cemented blocks for each participant. There will be at least 80 to 100 blocks so that all trainees can sit together for discussions and dialogues. The centre block will be for the trainer or communicator from where instructions can take place. All blocks, Sachan said, will be placed in a circle in such a way that all participants can sit facing the centre. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo One circle will have 12-15 blocks. Officials said healthy discussion and communication among trainee teachers will help students in better learning. The open-air theatres will also host cultural events where trainees can showcase talent in plays, concerts, dances, and other performances. It will also promote student participation in extracurricular activities and foster a sense of community.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Rationalisation fixes shortage of teachers in remote areas
Raipur: Chhattisgarh's teacher rationalisation initiative is making a tangible difference in the education sector, especially in the state's remote and tribal-dominated regions. This initiative aims to address long-standing teacher shortages and improve access to quality education in underserved areas. In forested and inaccessible parts of the Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur district, villages like Badgaon Khurd, Dhab, Khokhnia, and Devshil are witnessing a positive transformation. High School Badgaon Khurd, located inside the Guru Ghasidas National Park, had no permanent teachers and depended solely on a guest teacher. Now, with the appointment of two subject-specialist lecturers in Hindi and Mathematics, the village is experiencing renewed enthusiasm for learning. In Dhab village, a new assistant teacher joined the lone educator who was managing all duties at the primary school for years. The local community welcomed the move, expressing optimism for improved learning outcomes. Similarly, in Khokhnia, the appointment of one teacher at the primary level and two at the middle school brought relief to a village that had 87 students but inadequate teaching staff. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Devshil village, which had just one teacher for 57 students, now has an additional teacher, enhancing the learning environment. Villagers expressed joy and gratitude, seeing this as a critical step toward securing their children's futures. The impact of the rationalisation policy is evident beyond this district. In Balod's Taroud village, the local high school, which previously struggled with a single teacher for 60 students, received four subject-specialist teachers. The transformation sparked excitement among students and relief among parents, who feared for their children's education. The rationalisation drive, in accordance with the NEP 2020 and the Right to Education Act 2009, is being implemented across districts with the goal of ensuring an equitable teacher-student ratio. In Korba, 287 assistant teachers, 147 middle school teachers, and 75 lecturers were posted to schools in remote areas such as Podi Uprora and Katghora, which lacked subject-specific teachers for years. In urban areas like Raipur's Dharsiwa block, where some schools had a surplus of teachers, redistribution is being carried out to ensure balanced staffing. Schools like Nayapara Kanya and Ravigram, which had disproportionate teacher numbers compared to student strength, are now contributing to the needs of more deprived areas. Districts like Rajnandgaon and Durg are also seeing changes, with rationalisation addressing the mismatch in teacher deployment that affected academic performance. In Bastar division's seven districts, over 1,600 schools are undergoing this process to ensure proper distribution of teachers and educational resources. In Jashpur district, Farsabahar block's villages Raigarmunda and Mundadih, previously functioning with temporary or no teachers, now have regular teaching staff. This has boosted school attendance and restored parents' faith in the govt school system. Parents, school management committees, and local leaders have all expressed appreciation for the initiative. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai emphasised that this initiative is more than a logistical reform—it is a commitment to shaping the future of the state's children. "We are ensuring that teachers reach the schools that need them most. The progress seen in tribal and remote areas confirms that we are on the right path," he said.
