13 Facts About Mountain Gorillas in Africa
13 Facts About Mountain Gorillas in Africa: The following 13 facts about mountain gorillas in Africa are important details that tourists should be aware of about these gentle, endangered giants. In the entire planet, mountain gorillas exclusively live in Africa. On the African Continent, these rare and endangered primate species are a popular destination for tourists. To witness mountain gorillas in their natural habitat, tourists must journey to Rwanda, Uganda, or the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This is due to the fact that the remaining mountain gorilla population is only found in three nations worldwide.
The opportunity to trek mountain gorillas in Africa is a once-in-a-lifetime, thrilling, and daring adventure. Here are 13 things you should know about mountain gorillas in Africa if you’re considering going on a gorilla trekking safari in Uganda, Rwanda, or the Congo:
Mountain Gorillas: What Are They? In Africa, mountain gorillas are also referred to as “western gorillas” or “gorilla beringei beringei.” They are recognized as the world’s largest primate species. One of the two subspecies of the eastern gorilla, or “gorilla beringei,” is the mountain gorilla. The eastern lowland gorilla, which lives in the thick forests of central and western Africa, is the other subspecies of the eastern gorilla. Similar to other ape species, mountain gorillas are herbivores.
A mountain gorilla’s physical characteristics are as follows: This is the least important of the 13 facts about African mountain gorillas. In Africa, mountain gorillas can grow up to 4-6 feet tall, with an average height of 1-2 meters. Compared to eastern lowland gorillas, they are hairy primates with shorter arms and longer hair. Mountain gorillas have thick black hair, powerful limbs, and a large, broad chest.
African mountain gorillas’ social lifestyle: Mountain gorillas are often gregarious mammals. They are led by a dominant silverback and dwell in groups of between 11–30 individuals. Small gorilla families or groups, however, may consist of five to ten individuals. A silverback gorilla is in charge of looking after every individual in its group. Members of the silverback are protected from both internal and external threats, including male gorillas from other groups and humans. The silverback gorilla shields all of the young and females in the group from being hacked by naughty adult males in the same group when there are internal dangers. The silverback gorilla will battle other males in his group to keep them from mating with the females because, typically, only he gets to mate with the females in his group. His domain and rights over the female gorillas in his group are established in this way. In an attempt to gain leadership, mountain gorillas in a group will fly internally. The victor of a battle between a silverback and another adult male gorilla will become the dominant male gorilla and group leader. In Africa, mountain gorillas are often calm and quiet creatures. They are constantly moving in search of food, which is the major reason they never spend two nights in one location. These gorillas are constantly grooming one another when tourists travel to Africa to trek mountain gorillas. In addition to being a means of fostering camaraderie, gorilla grooming is significant.
The mountain gorillas’ reproductive life: The typical gestation duration for female mountain gorillas is 257 days, or roughly nine months. By the time they are 7 or 8 years old, female gorillas are sexually active, and they begin to procreate when they are 10 years old and older. Although it is extremely uncommon for gorillas to give birth to twins, a female gorilla may give birth to one or two young gorillas when she begins breeding. In Rwanda, Uganda, and the Congo, there are just a few gorilla populations that have twin baby gorillas. Most twin baby gorillas typically pass away either at birth or within a few weeks of their birth. When a gorilla baby dies, the mother typically stays with the baby for a while before leaving the dead body. Only three or four infants are born to a female mountain gorilla during her lifetime, and one baby every four to six years. Compared to females, male gorillas reach sexual maturity later in life. The population size of mountain gorillas is significantly impacted by their poor rate of reproduction. Because of this, it is very challenging for these species to rapidly grow again after experiencing a sharp drop in population ages ago. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species initially identified mountain gorillas as a severely endangered species in 1996. However, it was declared in November 2018 that these gorilla species are no longer considered critically endangered. All of this is a result of numerous wildlife organizations’ conservation efforts, which have led to a remarkable rise in the population of mountain gorillas.
In Africa, where do mountain gorillas reside? Only the deep, tropical rainforests of Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are home to mountain gorillas, or more specifically, western gorillas. Consequently, any traveler who wants to witness mountain gorillas in their natural habitat will need to pay for a gorilla trekking excursion in one of the aforementioned nations. Mountain gorillas are found in Rwanda‘s Volcanoes National Park, while in Uganda they can be seen in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The tropical jungles of the DRC’s Virunga National Park are also home to mountain gorillas.
What is the weight of African mountain gorillas? Male mountain gorillas weigh between 120 and 220 kg, or 260 and 485 pounds, making them the largest primates in the world. Females range in weight from 150 to 250 pounds (68 to 113 kg). A silverback mountain gorilla weighs between 195-220 kg, while a fully developed adult male can weigh over 136 kg. A mature female mountain gorilla may weigh between 86 and 113 kilograms. Newborn gorillas are typically referred to as infants and can weigh anywhere between three and five pounds. An adult, dominant male gorilla known as a Silverback leads the group or family in which mountain gorillas live. Silverback gorillas typically defend the group’s members, particularly the females and young.
How long do African mountain gorillas typically live? Among the 13 most amazing facts about African mountain gorillas is this one. The average mountain gorilla might live 40 to 50 years in the wild, but in captivity, like a zoo, they can live up to 60 years. A 60-year-old female gorilla at the Columbus Zoo passed away in 2017 and was the oldest western gorilla ever known to exist.
What is the diet of African mountain gorillas? The majority of mountain gorillas are herbivores. Plant stems, leaves, fruits, flowers, and bamboo shoots make up the majority of their food. Every day, mountain gorillas can consume over 50 pounds of leafy foods, or half of their entire weight. They are largely omnivorous mammals because they also eat insects, snails, and ants.
To what extent do humans and mountain gorillas resemble each other? 98% of human DNA is genetically similar to that of mountain gorillas, according to scientific studies. It follows that the ability of mountain gorillas to exhibit human-like traits and feelings, including regret, joy, and even sadness, is not surprising. In addition, mountain gorillas can contract diseases like the flu, cough, Ebola, and arthritis, which affects the hands, feet, fingers, and joints. Mountain gorillas experience tooth loss as they age, just like people do. The gorilla finds it challenging to eat at the same rate as the others, which disrupts their regular eating schedule. Mountain gorillas can be seen congregating around a deceased gorilla’s corpse as they grieve the death of a member.
In what ways do mountain gorillas exchange messages with one another? A variety of sounds and gestures, including hooting, shouting, barking, laughing, snarling, charging, belching, signing, yawning, and chest-beating, are used by mountain gorillas in Africa to communicate with one another. Every unique noise a gorilla makes has a specific meaning; for example, a gorilla charging indicates a threat. Dian Fossey, an American primatologist and conservationist, recognized 17 distinct mountain gorilla noises.
What are the main dangers facing Africa’s mountain gorilla populations? Ebola, flu, and tuberculosis are just a few of the many diseases that threaten the mountain gorilla population in Africa. Poachers that hunt mountain gorillas for their bushmeat, which is in high demand on the illegal market, are another threat to mountain gorilla populations. The destruction of their habitat poses a serious threat to mountain gorilla populations in Africa. The number of mountain gorillas in Africa has declined as a result of the ongoing loss of rainforests for farming, gas extraction, mineral ore mining, and lumber. According to statistics, just 17% of mountain gorillas presently reside in Africa’s protected regions, such as national parks and forest reserves. Because their habitat is continuously being encroached upon, mountain gorilla groups that reside outside of these protected zones are in grave danger.
How many African mountain gorillas remain? Based on the African Wildlife Foundation’s statistics, the estimated number of mountain gorillas in Africa now is above 1004. The Virunga Massif is home to this many mountain gorillas; in fact, half of Africa’s mountain gorilla population is believed to be found in Uganda alone.
What to do when mountain gorillas are around: This is among the most important Thirteen mountain gorilla facts. Given that 98% of human DNA is shared by mountain gorillas, it follows that they feel the same emotions as people, including joy, annoyance, fear, and rage. In order to avoid conflict with mountain gorillas, visitors who are trekking with them in Africa should adhere to these rules;
Keep a 7-meter gap between you and the gorillas.
When among gorillas, keep your movements to a minimum.
Avoid keeping your eyes on the gorillas, especially the silverbacks.
If you have an airborne illness, such as the flu or a cough, avoid trekking gorillas.
Before and after interacting with mountain gorillas, always wash your hands.
When you are around mountain gorillas, keep your voice quiet.
When the gorillas are around, avoid eating, drinking, and even smoking. Don’t try to feed the gorillas either.
When photographing the gorillas, avoid using the flash on your phone or camera.
When a gorilla charges at you, always remain composed; lie on the ground with your head down. The situation will only become worse if you panic.
The sight of African mountain gorillas is truly amazing. Make a reservation for a gorilla trekking safari with us if you want to visit these magnificent primates in the globe. It will be an experience of a lifetime!