Mountain gorillas are one of the world’s most intriguing creatures. An encounter with these great apes is considered one of the best wildlife experiences because they look and organize themselves like we humans. Mountain gorillas are among the four types of gorillas in Africa. The other three are the Cross River gorilla, Western lowland gorilla and the Grauer’s gorilla (Eastern lowland gorilla).
Mountain gorillas are found in only three countries – Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Uganda has the highest number of mountain gorillas that can be seen in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park. In Rwanda, mountain gorillas are found in the Volcanoes National Park while in DR Congo, it is in the Virunga National Park. Mountain gorillas have a distinct thick black fur which separates them from the brownish western and eastern lowland gorillas. They also have shorter arms than their lowland cousins.
Where can you find mountain gorillas?
Mountain gorillas live in the high-altitude forests of the Virunga Mountains, which span the borders of Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda.
These forests are characterized by dense vegetation, steep slopes, and high rainfall, which provide the perfect habitat for gorillas to thrive. The mountain gorilla population is estimated to be around 1,063 individuals, which makes them one of the most endangered species in the world.
The gorillas are divided into two populations, the Virunga population and the Bwindi population. The Virunga population is divided into three subpopulations, with around 604 individuals, while the Bwindi population has about 459 individuals.
Mountain gorillas have a unique adaptation to their high-altitude habitat. They have thicker fur than other gorilla subspecies, which helps them to survive the cold temperatures of the forest. They also have larger lungs and hearts than lowland gorillas, which allows them to cope with the lower oxygen levels at high altitudes.
Gorilla habituation
Gorilla habituation is a process undertaken by trackers to make gorillas get used to the presence of humans by visiting and following them everyday as they go about their daily routines. The process aims at improving the protection of gorillas by easing their monitoring in the wild as well as facilitating gorilla tourism by making as many gorilla groups accessible as possible. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has the highest number of habituated gorilla groups (17), Volcanoes National Park has 10, Virunga National Park has 8 while Mgahinga Gorilla National Park has only 1. Habituated gorilla groups in each park are the ones that are visited by tourists who come for gorilla trekking safaris in any of the 3 countries. Bwindi is the only destination where you can experience gorilla habituation and it is important to book your Uganda safaris early enough if you are interested in this 4 hour experience with the mountain gorillas.
Physical Characteristics of Mountain Gorillas
Mountain gorillas are the largest of all primates, with males weighing up to 400 pounds and standing up to 5 and a half feet tall when upright. Females are smaller, weighing up to 200 pounds and standing up to 4 feet tall standing upright.
Unlike other gorilla subspecies, mountain gorillas have longer hair, which helps them to survive in the cold temperatures of their high-altitude habitat. They also have a distinctive saddle-shaped patch of silver hair on their backs, which gives them a unique appearance.
Mountain gorillas have hands with opposable thumbs, which allow them to grasp objects and use tools. They also have large canine teeth, which they use for defence and dominance displays. Despite their intimidating appearance, mountain gorillas are generally peaceful and prefer to avoid confrontation.
Social Behaviour of Mountain Gorillas
Mountain gorillas live in social groups called troops, led by a dominant silverback male. The silverback is responsible for protecting the troop and is the largest and strongest member of the group. The troop consists of several females, their offspring, and sometimes one or two subordinate males. The females in the gorilla group are closely related to each other, and they play an essential role in the social dynamics of the group.
Mountain gorillas have highly developed social skills, and they communicate with each other through a variety of vocalizations, facial expressions, and body postures. They also use grooming as a means of bonding and socializing.
There can be more than one silverback in a mountain gorilla group
Although each group has a dominant silverback, 40% of the groups have other silverbacks. When this occurs, a hierarchy is established among the silverbacks with the dominant male the absolute leader. Male gorillas do not always leave the group like the females. They will stay with the group and remain subordinate to the alpha male (who is often their father or brother) hoping to inherit power. A few will decide to leave the family and stay on their own or attempt to attract females away from larger groups to start their own family. In a situation where there are several males in a group, all of them share the responsibility of protecting the group. The dominant silverback sires most of the offspring but the subordinates will have a few of their own.
What do mountain gorillas eat?
Mountain gorillas are mainly herbivores, and their diet consists mainly of leaves, shoots, and stems from a variety of plants. They also eat fruits, flowers, and sometimes insects. They spend a significant amount of time each day foraging for food, and they have been observed using tools to extract food, such as using sticks to extract ants from their nests.
Mountain gorillas have a unique digestive system that allows them to extract nutrients from fibrous vegetation. They have large intestines and a long digestive tract, which enables them to break down tough plant material. They also have a multi-chambered stomach that ferments the plant material, which helps to extract more nutrients.
Would it be possible to see a Mountain Gorilla in a zoo?
It is impossible to see a mountain gorilla in a zoo because they cannot survive in captivity. The western lowland gorilla is the sub-species of gorilla most commonly seen in zoos, and approximately 50,000 of them currently live in West Central Africa. In recent years, the eastern lowland gorilla population, which exists in the eastern Congolese rainforest, has significantly declined. In 1960, the eastern lowland gorilla population was estimated to range between 5,000 and 15,000.
Presently, however, only about 2,500 live in the wild, while less than fifty reside within zoos. Mountain gorillas, who live in the Virunga mountains of East central Africa, are the most endangered of the three subspecies, and are seriously threatened by the possibility of extinction. There are less than 650 of them left in the world, and they can only exist in the wild.
Are the Mountain Gorillas dangerous?
Habituated Mountain Gorillas are not dangerous or prone to be angered by tourists if not disturbed because they have been trained to be in the presence of humans. All wild animals in Africa are best considered potentially dangerous and treated as such, Many people are surprised that the Mountain Gorillas seem to ignore the tourists in their midst completely but there’re a couple of rules that ought to be followed. One should not get between a mother and a baby or tease animals, use a flash, make distracting noises or move quickly.
Is gorilla trekking worth it?
Gorilla trekking may appear or sound costly compared to other local tourist activities but the encounter has been described as one of the best wildlife experiences in the world by many past travelers. It is so breathtaking and heartwarming at the same time to meet a wild mountain gorilla face-to-face in their natural habitat.
Gorillas are popularly known as our wild cousins and being in their presence for a full hour causes endless emotions as you watch them go about their activities in a more or less human fashion. Secondly, a big part of the revenue generated from gorilla tourism is reinvested in strengthening their protection because they were regarded as critically endangered species a few years ago. Another part of the revenue is used to empower communities around gorilla habitats as a way of controlling poaching and habitat loss through human encroachment.
What is a gorilla permit?
A gorilla permit is a document issued to travelers of above 15 years that allow them to undertake gorilla trekking activity in the gorilla national park. With out the gorilla permit, a traveler cannot go to trek gorillas. A gorilla trekking permit is officially issued by Wildlife government organization which include Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) for Uganda gorilla trekking, Rwanda Development Board (RDB) for Rwanda gorilla trek and Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature (ICCN)
Susceptible to human diseases
Mountain gorillas are so close to human beings sharing 98% of human genes which them so vulnerable to human diseases. The mostly spread are airborne like flue and cough easily spread from people to mountain gorilla. Because of this, travelers are advised to keep a distance of seven meters away from the gorillas and others like in Virungas, travelers are given masks to put on their mouth and nose while coughing and sneezing.
Reproduction
The reproduction in mountain gorillas is quite slow compared to other wild animals. The female mountain gorillas give their first birth at 10 years and the gestation period is 8.5 months after which one baby gorilla is born. It is not very common mountain gorillas giving birth to twins. Anew born baby gorilla is very tiny weighing approximately 1.8kgs but keeps on growing to measure about 180kgs when it becomes mature.
In conclusion therefore, mountain gorillas are very interesting animals to interact with. Each member in the family plays a different role, which resemble a real human family.
How to they communicate?
Gorillas have displayed significant intelligence in captivity and have even learned simple human sign language. Primatologists have observed mountain gorillas use 16 different types of communication calls.
However, no mountain gorillas have ever survived in captivity; those in captivity are the eastern lowland gorillas, small and more adaptive than mountain gorillas.
The mountain gorilla uses short barks when it’s mildly alarmed or curious. To intimidate rivals, male gorillas strut with stiff legs, beat their chests, and use vocalizations like roars or hoots.
Mountain Gorillas are an endangered species.
IUCN classified Mountain gorillas as an Endangered Species. The political insurgencies in the DRC and Rwanda led to an influx of human settlement in the would-be habitats of the gorillas. The Gorillas were hunted and their habitats continuously invaded for charcoal burning, or agriculture. More to that, they are prone to human diseases like colds which they can easily catch only with worse gravity and could even die from a mere cold. This is why it is advisable to not trek them when you have a flu/cold to prevent the spread of such diseases.
What is the best time to see mountain gorillas?
Gorilla trekking is carried out throughout the year in all the 3 countries but the best gorilla trekking experience is achieved during the dry seasons between June to September and December to February. Trekking through the thick montane rainforests is less difficult in the dry season while gorillas are also easily seen as they freely roam through their habitat unlike on rainy days where they tend to confine at one place.
In-conclusion
Mountain gorillas are an incredible species with a rich and complex social life, unique physical features, and fascinating behaviours. Despite their critically low numbers, they continue to capture the hearts and minds of people worldwide. By learning about these incredible animals and supporting conservation efforts, we can help ensure they thrive in their natural habitat and play a vital role in the ecosystem.