Gorillas are among the largest known primates. Adult male gorillas, known as "silverbacks" due to the characteristic patch of silver hair on their backs and hips, can stand up to 5.6 feet tall in the wild and weigh up to 400 pounds. Gorillas dwell in tropical forests, many of which are in mountainous terrains.

They live in groups known as troops, typically composed of one dominant silverback, several adult females, and their offspring. The dominant silverback makes decisions like where to forage and make nesting sites.

Gorillas are extremely strong, with the ability to lift and carry almost twice their body weight. Despite their size and strength, gorillas are also quite agile and can climb trees when needed. However, gorillas are primarily terrestrial and move around by a form of locomotion called knuckle-walking, where they support their weight on the backs of their curved fingers rather than their palms

Despite their size and strength, gorillas are typically gentle and shy. They can however, be fierce and extremely formidable when they feel threatened or when the safety of their group, especially the infants, is in jeopardy. Gorillas are primarily herbivores, feeding on a variety of plants, leaves, stems, roots, vines, and fruits. Some species consume small invertebrates, but hunting for larger creatures is unheard of. Conflicts with explorers and adventurers arise when they stumble into gorilla territory and appear to pose a threat or when something is amiss in the environment that is agitating the gorillas and driving them to higher levels of aggression.