Know more on safari about mountain gorilla facts, life and behavior

Mountain gorilla facts, life and behavioral ways of life are so nearest to those of human beings given the 98% DNA match we have with these gentle giant apes. Mountain gorillas further display their intelligence in the way they treat their babies and socialize in their families. Know more about mountain gorillas, facts, life & behavior __ What do gorillas eat? Are gorillas dangerous/ aggressive? Do gorillas eat meat? Do gorillas drink water? How gorillas communicate?

Coming near mountain gorillas on a gorilla trekking safari with Travitude safari tours will give you the best knowledge of what mountain gorillas are. According to BBC & research, mountain gorillas seek out old mates even after years apart(up to 20 years) a behavior reflecting their social life. Moreover, mountain gorillas not only social primates like humans but also humble unless provoked with mountain gorilla tracking experiences attracting recognition for example through movies like kingkong.

What are mountain gorillas?

Weighing up to 180-200 kg and 5’5” feet tall (170cm) on all four legs and female gorillas weigh 90-130 kg and 4’9” (150 cm) tall, mountain gorillas are a relatives of eastern lowland gorillas and live in montane forests at elevations of 8,000 to 13,000 feet. Females can overpower silverbacks (males) twice their weight. The giant apes have thicker fur, and more of it, compared to other great apes and they are the largest of the living primate species. Also mountain gorillas share 98.3% DNA with humans and this gets them to have the same behaviors and challenges like humans for example diseases that affect humans, affect gorillas.

Where do you find mountain gorillas in Africa?

Number of mountain gorillas now go beyond 1,100 in number according to the last census conducted found in east-central Africa in Virunga massif also an intersecting boundary among Rwanda, Uganda and D.R. Congo. In Rwanda, mountain gorillas are found in the volcanoes national park only. Uganda has two destinations for gorilla tracking in Mgahinga national park and the Bwindi Impenetrable forest national park which has the highest number of mountain gorillas with more than 50% of the mountain gorillas’ remaining total population. Virunga national park in Democratic Republic of Congo also harbors between 350- 400 mountain gorilla individuals. Thanks to the conservation efforts done by the wildlife bodies over years.

Facts, names and identification of mountain gorillas

Just like human beings having unique finger prints, each mountain gorilla has a unique nose print different from any other; this has helped their caretakers to name gorillas and make records especially while giving them medical attention and other monitoring services. Naming ceremonies of the new born members at gorilla parks is also one of the most exciting moments and event.

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Gorilla diet; What do mountain gorillas eat?

Highland mountain gorillas are primarily herbivores; the majority of their diet comprises of 85.8% of leaves, shoots and plant stems of over 140 plant species. They also feed on tree barks (6.9%), roots (3.3%) and fruits like figs (1.7%) as well as invertebrates (0.1%) such as larvae, snails, ants etc., rotting wood- a good source of salt/sodium for them. In the monitoring studies and research at Bwindi Impenetrable forest national park, adult males eat an average of 18.8 kg (41lbs.) of food per day whereas females eat 14.9 kg (33 lbs.) of green per day.

Meat eating among mountain gorillas

Meat contributes less than 2% of the gorilla’s diet. Gorillas eat meat if it is served to them for example those that are caged in zoos and sanctuaries. Likewise mountain gorillas in the forests are not fond of hunting for meat like chimpanzees but will eat meat of carcass of monkeys, kobs, wild pigs etc. if they come across any.

Gorilla family life & structure

Notably, mountain gorillas live in stable family groups of between 10-20 individuals with one dominant male- the silverback- and several females. Both males and females in the group care for their infants; hugging, carrying and playin with them. During the night, gorillas sleep in groups cuddling together for warmth in nests they make on ground. When they get older, most males around 60% and females leave their birth group to join another troop. This helps prevent inter-breeding; this way maintaining a strong DNA structure.

Are mountain gorillas dangerous or aggressive?

Although mountain gorillas are very powerful and strong with big hand muscles yet are gentle and very shy. Severe aggression is rare in stable groups but when two mountain gorilla groups meet, sometimes can engage in a fight to the death using their canines to tear causing deep gaping injuries. Conflicts are most often resolved by displays and other threat behaviors that are intended to intimidate without becoming physical. These behaviors go through a nine sequence steps:

progressively quickening hoots
symbolic feeding
rising bipedal gestures
throwing vegetation
chest beating with cupped hands
one leg kick
sideways running on two or four legs
slapping and tearing vegetation and
thumping the ground with palms to end display.

How do mountain gorillas communicate?

Research shows mountain gorillas have twenty-five different vocalizations known and mostly used primarily for group communication within dense forest vegetation. Sounds classified as barks and grants are heard most frequently while moving and indicate the whereabouts of individual group members. Screams and roars signal alarm or warning and are produced most often by silverbacks as they command their leadership in the family. Deep and rumbling belches suggest contentment and are heard frequently during feeding and resting periods among their families.

How mountain gorillas have sex/ mate

The mountain gorillas mate once an hour during the days when the females are in their heat periods. Females start mating at around the age of 8 years and get pregnant within periods of 3-4 years given the long weaning periods and care given to their young babies. As a result mountain gorillas have a gestation period of 9 months to birth young ones. Gorillas live up to 40 years of age. Females usually loose sexual desires after the age of 30 years. Mountain gorillas avoid inbreeding amongst their relatives and keep on separating and making new families with member from other families when they come of age.

Do mountain gorillas drink water or swim?

Surprisingly, mountain gorillas do not like nearing large waterbodies- lakes & rivers in fear of drowning as they can’t swim. They get most of the water supplement to their bodies through the water logged bamboos, tree barks and stems. Though in some incidences when gorillas are crossing shallow streams or come across small water streams sloping down the mountains, they will get closer and bend towards the water and use their palms to draw some water for drinking just as human beings.

Know more on safari about mountain gorilla facts, life and behavior

What are mountain gorillas?

Where do you find mountain gorillas in Africa?

Facts, names and identification of mountain gorillas

Best Mountain gorilla facts, life, behavior & trekking safari packages

1 DAY UGANDA GORILLA TREKKING SAFARI

1 day Rwanda gorilla trekking safari

2 days Rwanda gorilla trekking safari

2 days Uganda gorilla trekking safari

4 day Rwanda gorilla trekking safari

5 day Uganda gorillas & primates safari