Facts About Mountain Gorillas

Introduction to key facts about mountain gorillas in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo with Superfine Safaris Limited. Mountain gorillas are among the popular primates, one of the major attractions for travelers from all over the world.  Dwelling in the jungles of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and the Virunga Massif, mountain gorillas are endangered primates that were once on the verge of extinction due to poaching and habitat loss. In this article, we enlighten you on the 19 Facts about mountain gorillas in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. These facts cover gorillas’ behaviors, habitats, conservation, and biology

Key Facts about Mountain Gorillas

Unique Nose prints

Each mountain gorilla has a distinct nose print and pattern of ridges and folds on its nose.  The differences in nose prints help in the easy identification of gorillas. The different nose prints help researchers to understand each mountain gorilla in a family extensively, not mistaking them with each other

Dense and insulating fur

Mountain gorillas feature dense and thick fur, which helps them to survive in the cold altitudes. Mountain gorillas live in higher altitudinal areas, which are extremely cold below the freezing point, especially at night. The thick hairs help to insulate, providing warmth, helping gorillas to live normally despite the cold

Immeasurable strength

Mountain gorillas are undoubtedly very strong primates in the wild. An adult male gorilla can weigh up to 220 kilograms, while an adult female weighs between 75 and 135 kilograms. One male gorilla is estimated to be 4 times stronger than an adult man

Dominant Silverback Gorilla

Each gorilla family is headed by a dominant silverback gorilla who is like a father in human homes.  The silverback gorilla is a male aged 12 years and above, and each family has only one silverback gorilla.  The silver grey hair on the back and hips of gorillas differentiates the silverback gorilla from other members in the family.  The silverback gorilla has the right to mate with all adult females in the group

Crushing Bite Force

Mountain gorillas possess strong jaws which help them crush and chew strong bamboo and stalks.

Man’s close relatives

With over 98% of human genes, mountain gorillas are man’s close relatives. The endangered primates posses most of human characters for example living in families, and adults nursing the babies. The closeness of mountain gorillas to people make them susceptible to human communicable diseases such as cough, flue  and cold

Largest Primates

Mountain gorillas are ranked as the largest primates on earth. An adult male gorilla weighs over 220 kilograms

Mountain gorillas live in families

YES, mountain gorillas live in families/groups just like people. Each gorilla family comprises males, females, and kids. The dominant silverback is the head of each family. Adult females take care of their children while the juveniles and black backs keep the gorilla family active.  Gorilla families comprise of between 10 to 25 members.

The Ritualized Charge Display

Silverback gorillas charge by beating their chests in defense whenever they sense an enemy around them.  The silverback gorilla takes a nine-step ritual to scare the enemies away. The thunderous chest beating, hoots, and a series of roars by the silverback are an indication that something around them is not right

Gorillas use sound to communicate

Mountain gorillas use different vocalizations for communication at different times.  When within their group, silverback gorillas use soft grunts. When asserting dominance, the silverback gorillas use loud roars and barks to make sure he is heard and recognized by all other family members

Male Bachelors Groups

Adult males who are not dominant silverbacks leave their families to form the temporary male bachelor group.  These males try hard to attract females from other families to join them. Eventually, these males gain the strength to form their own families, which they dominate

Limited Habitats

Mountain gorillas have extremely limited habitats, only found in Bwindi Forest National Park and the Virunga Conservation Area.  The four parks that shelter the gorillas are Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga in Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, and Virunga National Park in Congo

High-Altitude Dwellers

Mountain gorillas live in high-altitude areas, hence the name “mountain gorillas”.  The endangered primates live in areas between 2200 meters to 7200 meters above sea level

Herbivores

Mountain gorillas are primarily folivores who primarily feed on shoots, leaves, fruits, and fibers

Self-hydrating diet

Mountain gorillas feed on vegetation with sufficient moisture, which keeps them hydrated.  The morning dew on leaves is a big deal for gorillas

Female mountains have the slow reproductive cycle and give birth to only one baby in four to six years.

Cannot survive in Captivity

Mountain gorillas only survive in natural high altitude areas and cannot survive in captivity