Top 10 facts about mountain gorillas
Top 10 facts about mountain gorillas: 1. There are about 1,063 in the wild.
The eastern and western gorillas are the two species of gorillas that exist in the globe. A subspecies of the eastern gorilla is the mountain gorilla. According to the most recent census statistics, which are released every five to ten years, there are an estimated 1,063 mountain gorillas in the wild, making them endangered.
2. They are divided into two separate groups.
There are only two isolated groups of mountain gorillas in east-central Africa: one in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda, which links to the Sarambwe Nature Reserve in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and another in the Virunga Volcanoes, which span three national parks in Rwanda, Uganda, and the DRC. They can be found in high-altitude bamboo and montane forests that are encircled by towns and farms.
3. Gorillas and humans have about 98% of the same DNA.
Because they are so genetically similar to humans yet lack the requisite immunizations, gorillas may be negatively impacted by exposure to human diseases, including the common cold. Learn more about the mountain gorillas we are protecting.
Rwandan silverback mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei) are intoxicated by bamboo stalks. Note: Gorillas may become inebriated if they consume too many bamboo stalks.
4. They are among the largest and strongest primates still alive.
A typical silverback gorilla can weigh up to 180 kg, or about 30 stone, and stand 170 cm, or more than 5’5″, tall when on all fours. On the other hand, female mountain gorillas can reach a height of 150 cm (4’9″) and weigh 90 kg.
5. They are able to eat all day.
Mountain gorillas consume primarily plants for around 25% of the day. Although leaves, shoots, and stems make up around 85% of a gorilla’s diet, they can also consume ants, snails, larvae, and even rotting wood, roots, and bark—all of which are good sources of salt and sodium.
6. At night, they curl up.
Groups of mountain gorillas sleep together at night in nests they have built out of leaves on the ground or in trees. In order to be warm and safe, infants will share their mothers’ nests.
7. They offer sixteen distinct call types.
This includes brief barks in response to minor alarm or curiosity. Male gorillas beat their chests, strut with stiff legs, and make noises like hoots or roars to frighten rivals.
8. They reside in family units.
With one dominant male and multiple females, the majority of mountain gorillas reside in stable family groupings of ten or more. In the group, both men and women take care of their babies by playing, caressing, and carrying them. About 60% of females and the majority of males leave their birth group to join another troop as they get older. This lessens the chance of inbreeding.
9. Gorillas can live to be over 40 years old in the wild.
Gorillas are categorized as infants until they are approximately three and a half years old, and then as adults starting at age eight. The term ‘blackbacks’ refers to males aged 8 to 12. Then, starting around age 12, they start to grow silver hair on their hips and back, which gives them the nickname “silverback.”
10. They are in danger.
Degradation of their environment is the primary threat to mountain gorillas. Deforestation results from competition for scarce natural resources and the increasing conversion of land for agriculture brought on by the region’s population growth. People visit mountain gorilla woods to gather firewood and water because they have no other option, endangering the gorillas from diseases and human contact. Additionally, people might set up snares for bushmeat, which could unintentionally hurt great apes. Gorillas are not confined to their forests. In order to consume crops like maize and bananas, they travel onto farmland, which may lead to confrontation with those who must earn a living. Another possible problem is poorly managed gorilla tourism, which might affect the health and behavior of mountain gorillas.