How Long Do Gorillas Live?

At an age of 35 or more, gorillas show distinct signs of age. Old mountain gorillas often suffer from arthritis, which mainly damages the bones in their hands and feet. They also suffer from the loss of teeth as a consequence of periodontitis, so that they have a problem with feeding. It takes them longer to feed and to travel than the other group members. Gorilla groups adjust their activities accordingly and look after the aged members, in a similar way as they treat sick individuals. Only when death is imminent, the old animals are sometimes abandoned or they retreat on their own accord.
To date, no exact data on the maximum age of free-ranging gorillas are available, as animals in the wild have only been observed since 1967. Some researchers assume that they can reach 60 years, but on average they probably reach 40-45 years. The oldest gorilla to have lived in a zoo died in Philadelphia at 53 years.