Largest Gorilla – Biggest Silverback Gorilla ever recorded
Largest Gorilla – Biggest Silverback Gorilla ever recorded.
Let’s cut to the chase: you’re here because you want to know about the king of the jungle’s bulkier, primate cousin—the biggest silverback gorilla ever recorded. Picture a creature so massive it could bench-press the heaviest load ever recorded by the world’s strongest man without breaking a sweat.
The most significant heaviest silverback gorilla ever recorded, also referred to as the biggest gorilla ever recorded was called Titus. (Born on 1979 August 24th and died on 14th September 2009).
In contrast to the fact that Lowland gorillas are always the biggest, Titus as a mountain silverback gorilla. In fact, the largest mountain silverback gorilla ever recorded.
Besides his giant size, Titus was also named the Gorilla king. He gained tremendous respect and affection from the gorillas and humans who knew him.
He was known for his strong low-conflict approach to leadership, and his tremendous skills to control other gorilla reactions especially after stressful events.
In the same gorilla family Titus once led, his absence is felt till today, even if his gorilla group is now under a different leadership.
Titus Weight
When Titus was already 33 years old, he stood at 6 feet and weighed about 400 pounds. As a giant, Titus ruled as the dominant silverback for almost half his life.
Suggested Safari Itineraries
Titus: Orphaned at the age of 4
The life of Titus – the Gorilla King.
Orphaned at the age of 4, Titus started his journey to the ‘World biggest gorilla” after joining a group of bachelor gorillas led by one gorilla gang called Beetsme.
After several years of leadership Beetsme dominated and secretly fathered several offsprings however when Titus reached age 17, he wrestled kingship with his boss and was later crowned the group leader in a bloodless coup.
As of 2004, Titus has been the gorilla with control over the largest numbers of gorillas in the whole world.
Much as Titus’ reign recorded tremendous success, this fruitful leadership lasted only 15 years and came to an end at the age of 35, after he was challenged by two of his sons.
Kuryama, who was Titus’s first-born son displaced his father in 2007 after he made a bid to become the group’s dominant male.
However, unwilling to give up his position, Titus split with the group and his loyal group members remained with him until he was murdered two years later.
At the age of 35 and not as strong as he once was, Titus was challenged and finally overthrown by his 17-year-old son Rano who had not been seen for two years.
Several weeks after, the gorilla kid suffered stress and later passed on.
The Contender: A Gorilla Named Phil
In captivity, earlier in 1970s, a silverback named Phil at the St. Louis Zoo tipped the scales at 860 pounds (390 kg). To put Phil’s size in perspective: the average male gorilla weighs 300–400 pounds in their natural habitat. Phil wasn’t just large and yes, he’s the largest gorilla ever recorded.
How Phil Stacks Up Against Wild Giant Silverbacks
Phil: The largest/biggest gorilla ever
Wild silverbacks are leaner, with muscle built from navigating dense forests and wrestling rivals. Here’s a quick comparison:
| Metric | Wild Silverback | Phil (Captive) |
| Weight | 300–400 lbs | 860 lbs |
| Activity Level | Climbing, fighting | Napping, eating |
| Diet | Leaves, stems, fruit | Zoo chow + snacks |
Phil’s size isn’t typical—it’s an outlier. Most gorillas, even in captivity, don’t hit these numbers. But his story raises a question: do gorillas get too big? Probably not.
Suggested Safari Itineraries
Giant gorilla: Why are gorillas so big?
Why are gorillas big?
Diet: Gorillas are very huge primarily because of their diet. Gorillas eat a lot of plants daily. In fact, an average adult gorilla eats about 37kg on a daily basis hence their giant size. The large plant vegetation and fruits give gorillas sufficient calories and proteins to build bigger muscles.
Adaptation: since gorillas inhabit cold places, their giant body size enables them to effectively regulate temperatures.
Additionally, gorillas have a rare genetic disposition that allows them to easily develop muscle mass efficiently.
Conclusion
If you’re planning a gorilla trekking trip in Uganda or Rwanda, get in touch in advance so that a satisfying gorilla family is allocated for you.
It’s important to know that Wild gorillas prioritize survival over size. But, during your Uganda gorilla trekking, you shall discover other fascinating gorilla facts and love them even more.
Send your inquiry and let’s arrange a journey to these gentle giants.
Anthony
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