A group of gorillas is called a band or troop and is sometimes referred to as a family. Gorillas typically move in groups of about 5-30 individuals, mostly compromised of an alpha adult male dominating a group of females, blackback males, juveniles, and infants.
Gorillas mostly live in their families of origin to form their own families in the future.
However, in most cases, infant male gorillas fight the dominant silverback when they grow to take over group leadership or they may leave the group to start their own. Some male gorillas leave the group as lone males and start fighting with different groups to acquire members.
In case a group is made up of only female gorillas and one dominating silverback, and that silverback dies, the females in the group will disperse to join solitary males or other gorilla groups. Sometimes females may remain socializing in the group for a short period of time until a male comes to dominate.
Most blackback gorillas leave their birth troops due to a lack of breeding opportunities.
This is because only the dominating males can breed with all the females in the group, and the first troop a female produces from becomes her permanent family.
Baby mountain gorillas have strong bonds with their offspring until around the age of six years. The first female gorillas to produce in a group have a higher advantage than the female gorillas who join later because a silverback gives high protection to its first offspring.
The dominating silverbacks always aim at expanding their families, which is why gorilla groups often fight when they meet. The silverbacks can feel threatened that the other group will grab his family, leading to fights that can cause gaping injuries and sometimes death.
Mountain gorilla groups can only be trekked in three countries in the world: Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Bwindi and Mgahinga National Parks in Uganda.
Permits for gorilla trekking cost $1500 in Rwanda, $700 in Uganda, and $400 in Congo. Tourists are always advised to acquire gorilla permits at least three months in advance of the gorilla trekking date.
About Gorillas
Gorillas are divided into two species: eastern gorillas and western gorillas. These two species are further subdivided into western lowland gorillas, cross river gorillas, eastern lowland gorillas, and mountain gorillas. They slightly differ in shape and are distributed in western and eastern Africa.
Gorillas are herbivorous animals whose diet comprises fruits, leaves, shoots, roots, stems, bark, and sometimes ants, insects, and termites. They inhabit the tropical rain-forests of Africa, which offer a wide range of vegetation.
Mountain gorillas share about 95-98 percent of their DNA with humans, making them close relatives like chimpanzees and bonobos. They are usually shy and gentle animals but can become very aggressive when disturbed, and this aggression happens after warnings from a gorilla.
Gorilla FAQs & Information
- Why Can’t You Look or Make Eye Contact with a Gorilla?
- Why Silverback Gorillas Fight
- Importance of Mountain Gorillas
- What to do when a gorilla charges on you
- What is The Largest Species of Gorillas?
- What is the Mountain Gorillas Role in The Ecosystem?
- The Mountain Gorilla Defense Mechanism
- How to Provoke/Annoy a Gorilla
- How Gorillas Greet Each Other
- Do All Gorillas Become Silverbacks?
- Do Gorillas like Humans
- Do gorillas Eat of Kill Their Babies?
- Do Gorillas Eat Humans?
- Can you Tame a Gorilla
- Can you Own a Gorilla?
- Do Mountain Gorillas live in Families & Groups?
- How to Protect & Save Mountain Gorillas
- Why Gorillas Are So Strong
- How Many Humans Does it Take to Beat a Gorilla?
- How do you call a Baby Gorilla?
- How Do Gorillas Sleep?
- How Mountain Gorillas Communicate
- The Gorilla Life Cycle
- Do Gorillas drink water?
- Are Gorillas friendly & gentle to humans?
- Why do Apes, Gorillas beat their chest & sound hollow?
- Gorilla Threats: Why Mountain Gorillas were endangered?
- Why were Mountain Gorillas going extinct?
- What is a Silverback Gorilla?
- Gorilla Species: Different Kinds/Types of Gorilla & Breeds
- Mountain Gorilla Diet
- Mountain Gorilla Size, Average Height & Weight Measurements
- Natural Mountain Gorilla Predators
- Mountain Gorilla Population
- Lifespan of Mountain Gorillas
- Mountain Gorilla Natural Habitat
- Mountain Gorilla Conservation Efforts
- Mountain Gorilla Behavior
- How to Survive a Gorilla Attack on Humans
- Are Gorillas Dangerous to the People
- Why are Gorillas Poached in Africa
- How Gorillas Adapt to Rain-forest Environment
- Interesting Facts about Mountain Gorillas in Africa
- Traits, Qualities & Characteristics of Mountain Gorillas
- How Strong is a Silverback Gorilla?
- Best Place to See Mountain Gorillas in Africa
- Uganda Gorilla Families
- Rwanda Gorilla Families
- Congo Gorilla Families
