Mountain gorillas can only be found in Africa at Volcanoes national park in Rwanda, Virunga national park in Democratic republic of Congo and Mgahinga and Bwindi national park in Uganda. Mountain gorillas are the world’s largest primates sharing 98% DNA with humans.
Mountain gorillas live in groups usually led by a dominating silverback male who takes care of all the group’s activities like feeding, sleeping, accesses all the groups females alone, arbitrates disputes and is responsible for the groups safety protecting it from intruders even if it means leading to death.
Mountain gorillas are mainly herbivores animals feeding on leaves, shoot, stems, roots, fruits, celery, bark, pith and rarely supplement their diet with ants, termites and insects. They use sticks for getting termites in holes.
Male gorillas become silverbacks when they mature and develop a patch of grey hair on their backs and across shoulders, only silverback male gorillas can lead a mountain gorilla family. Female mountain gorillas become sexually at an early age before male gorillas.
Why do silverback gorillas fight?
Silverback gorillas normally don’t fight unnecessarily but when need comes they fight vigorously causing injuries that sometimes lead to death though fights are rare in stable gorilla groups. Below are some of the reasons why silverback gorillas fight.
Group dominance
Silverback gorillas normally fight when one of male silverbacks in the group wants to take over the dominancy of the group.
Female mountain gorillas
Sometimes mountain gorilla silverbacks fight when a dominating silverback realizes that a male in the group is mating with the females. A dominating silverback in the group is the only one to access the group females.
Silverbacks of different groups
Silverback mountain gorillas sometimes fight when two gorilla groups meet, they will feel threatened and the silverbacks start fighting.
Group breakups
Silverbacks also fight when a male wants to leave the group with some members in order to start up his own family.
Lone silverbacks
Silverback gorillas sometimes fight with lone silverbacks who aim at grabbing some members from other gorilla groups to start up their own families.
In conclusion, mountain gorillas normally don’t just engage in fights before sending warnings to its opponent like, groaning and making loud hoots, hitting the ground thunderously, beating their chest, throwing and tearing vegetation. Silverbacks always send threatening signs before attacking and if the oponenent persists they will eventually attack.
Mountain gorillas use their strong canine teeth for biting and their strong muscular hands for beating; they cause deep gaping injuries and can sometimes drag the predator. It’s uncommon for mountain gorillas to attack humans except for un habituated gorilla families not used to human presence.
Cost of gorilla permits
The cost of gorilla permits differs in all the three countries with Rwanda charging $1500, Democratic republic of Congo $450 and Uganda costing $600. Gorilla permits are always on high demand so the permits should be obtained in advance before flying into the country for trekking. Children under the age of 15 years or sick visitors will not be allowed to trek mountain gorillas.
Gorilla FAQs & Information
- Why Can’t You Look or Make Eye Contact with a Gorilla?
- Importance of Mountain Gorillas
- What to do when a gorilla charges on you
- What is The Largest Species of Gorillas?
- What is a Group of Gorillas Called?
- 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
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