Facts About Mountain Gorillas
Facts about mountain gorillas are unique land-dwelling mammals that are in one of the two subspecies of the eastern gorillas. However, there are two species of gorillas in the world that is; the Eastern and Western gorillas. Mountain gorillas can be found in three countries; Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, although Congo harbors the two species; mountain gorillas and low eastern gorillas among other species.
Uganda’s mountain gorilla is a subspecies of the Eastern gorilla found only in the east-central African rainforests and they live only in the mountains at elevations that range between 8,000 and 13,000 feet. Other mountain gorilla populations live in the rainforest of the Virunga mountains of Volcanoes National Park hkRwanda, Virunga National Park Congo, and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park Uganda. It is said half of the mountain gorillas roam the montane jungle floors of Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park/Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
Gorilla trekking /Mountain gorilla trekking goes with valid permits in all countries where gorilla trekking experience is done – Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Uganda gorilla trekking permits cost USD700 per person per day, Rwanda gorilla trekking permits cost USD1,500 per person per day, and USD400 in Congo’s Virunga National Park.
Facts about Mountain Gorillas;
Mountain gorillas often have thicker and longer than that other gorilla species which enables them to live in colder temperatures.
Male gorillas can stand in height of 161 to 171 cm and their arms measures 2 to 2.7 meter and have a weight of 70-98 kilograms.
Females are smaller with a weight of 70 to 98 kilograms.
Mountain gorillas are the smaller subspecies of eastern lowland gorillas.
Their back hair is shorter than on most other body parts.
Mountain gorillas’ arms are longer than their legs.
They can move by knuckle–walking.
Silverbacks can weigh over 267 kilograms.
Mountain gorillas are habitant of the Albertine Rift montane cloud forest including the Virunga Mountains. Other gorilla groups live on the slopes of three of the dormant volcanoes: Karisimbi, Mikeno, and Visoke.
The mountain gorilla is a primarily herbivorous species that feed on a diet composed of the leaves, shoots, and stems of 142 plant species.
Adult males can eat an average of 18.8 kilograms of food a day while a female can eat 15 kilograms.
Gorillas are one of our closest living relatives, after chimpanzees and bonobos.
They share between 95% and 99% of our DNA with humans.
Mountain gorillas that still exist in the wild range around 1,065 individuals.
They live in two isolated groups.
Mountain gorillas are one of the biggest and most powerful living primates.
Mountain gorillas can eat all day long. Around 85% of their diet is made up of shoots and stems, leaves, larvae, snails, ants, and even roots and rotting wood.
They cozy up at night.
The mountain gorilla has 16 different types of call that includes short barks when they are mildly alarmed. Male gorillas strut with stiff legs, beat their chests, and use vocalizations like roars.
Mountain gorillas live in east central Africa in two isolated groups one in the Virunga Volcanoes that span three national parks of Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo ‘’DRC’’. That is Mgahinga Gorilla National in Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, and Virunga National Park in Congo.
They cozy up at night by sleeping together in nests on the grounds or in trees. Infant gorillas share with their mother’s nests.
Mountain gorillas live in family groups of around 10 to 30 individuals, led by one dominant male and several females. Both males and females in the group take care of their infants by hugging, carrying and playing with them.
Gorillas in the wild can live over 40 years old. The male gorillas between 8 to 12 years are called blackbacks and from 12 years old. Those 12 years old and above, start to develop a silver section of hair over their back and hips thus rewarding them the name ‘’silverback’’.
