The mountain gorilla (botanical name Gorilla beringei beringei) is the largest, strong ape inhabiting Africa’s volcanic slopes, has few natural predators. But due to increase in human nature and new invention the gorillas are highly endangered animals because of man. Such as poaching, civil war, and habitat destruction, the mountain gorilla, a subspecies of the eastern gorilla, has become the most endangered type of gorilla.
Currently, the mountain gorilla’s habitat is limited to protected national parks in two regions of Africa. One group of gorillas lives in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda. The other group is spread over three national parks in the Virungas mountain region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and Rwanda.
Mountain gorillas are as shy as they are strong. But when threatened, they can be aggressive. They beat their chests and let out angry grunts and roars. Group leaders will charge at the threat. Mothers will fight to the death to protect their young.
Mountain gorillas live in groups of up to 30. The group, or troop, is led by a single alpha male, an older silverback. These males are called silverbacks because of the silver stripe they develop on their backs when they mature. The oldest males of the group are at least 12 years old. These troops also include several younger males, adult and juvenile females, and infants.
In addition to providing protection to group members, silverbacks maintain order and decide all activities within their troop. They schedule feeding trips, resting time, and travel. They also father the majority of the young in the group.
Female mountain gorillas can produce young beginning at age 10. They carry one or two babies at a time and give birth after a 8.5-month gestation period. In general, they will bear between two and six offspring in a lifetime.
Newborn gorillas weigh about 1.8 kgs at birth. They are as weak and uncoordinated as human babies. For the first four years of their lives, they get around by clinging to their mothers backs. By 3.5 years of age, the young gorillas are fully weaned from their mother’s milk and start the same diet as mature mountain gorillas: plants, leaves, roots and shoots.
Fully-grown male mountain gorillas can weigh up to 180kg. Females weigh half that at about 90 kg. Aside from the silver stripe on their backs, male mountain gorillas are distinguished from females because they have a crest of fur on their heads. Both genders have similar thick black hair covering their body. Their thick hair keeps them warm in cold mountain temperatures.
In Uganda, Bwindi is the ultimate destination for gorilla trekking safaris, journeys to see the great apes in the wild. In the whole world, there are as few as 1000 mountain gorillas left. Gorilla tracking will cost you about US$700 per person and this activity is limited to only those who are above 15 years. The gorilla tracking is done in Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park.
Gorilla tracking is for exactly one hour after meeting the gorillas, typically they do not count the trekking time they do consider the time when you meet the gorillas. There is actually gorilla habituation in Uganda where you get to spend about four hours with the gorillas in the wild.
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