The Mountain Gorillas
The Mountain Gorillas
The Mountain Gorillas : Of all the great apes, Mountain gorillas are the largest species, they live in the steep mountains of the Central Africa in the Albertine Rift – Valley. The mountain gorillas (gorilla beringei) are found only in 3 countries that is Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo in two populations, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and The Virunga Mountains consisting of Volcanoes National Park of Rwanda, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda and Virunga National Park in DR. Congo.
In the whole world, there is only about 1004 mountain gorillas remaining. Due to their increasing population thanks to the tremendous conservation efforts, the mountain gorillas were removed from the red list of the critically endangered species to endangered species list.
Gradually, the population of mountain gorillas has successfully increased from about 800 gorillas in 2015 to about 1040 as indicated by the 2019 gorilla census.
Mountain gorillas are the closest human relative as they share much of the same characters and emotions, it is confirmed that mountain gorillas share about 98% of the human DNA after the chimpanzees and baboons.
Meeting the mountain gorillas is an extremely exciting wildlife encounter and no one can prepare you as you will be filled with emotions.
Structure and Behaviors of The Mountain Gorillas
Among the three gorilla species that is western gorillas and eastern gorillas, Mountain gorillas are the largest species and the largest among the primate species. An adult male mountain gorilla (silverback) can weigh about 200kg and upright stand at height of 5ft, females can weigh half of the silverback.
An adult male is called the Silverback because of the gray colored back which develop with age of about 8 years and above.
The fur of the mountain gorillas is often thicker and longer than that of other gorilla species, this enables them to live in colder temperatures. Each of the gorillas has an individual and unique nose print which is used for identification.
Naturally, gorillas are highly sociable creatures living in groups ranging from about 5-30 individuals with an average of about 10 gorillas per group, the groups are led by the silverback and composed of other young males, adult females and infants.
The silverback is the defender of the family and they can fight even till death as they defend their groups/families, the silverback also decides on most of the day activity of the group on where to move and hold most of the privileges in the group like feeding first.
Mountain gorillas imitate much of the human behaviors including emotions, care and shyness among other characters.
Mountain gorillas are primarily herbivore, the majority of its diet is composed of leaves, shoots and stems of about 142 plant species and also, they feed on barks, roots, flowers and fruits as well as small invertebrates. A day, adult males can eat up to 34 kg of vegetation while a female can eat as much as 18kg. They forage in the morning, rest in the late morning, also forage at afternoon hours and rest. To maintain the bulk of their feeding gorillas each day they wander for about 3 kilometers from where they had the previous night.
After the afternoon forage, the gorillas in evening hours they build nests to spend in their overnight. Rather than defending territories, mountain gorillas defend families. So, they tend to wander for about 3 kilometers away from where they had the previous night.
Where to track mountain gorillas in the world?
In the whole world, mountain gorillas inhabit the Albertine Rift Montane forests including the Virunga Volcanoes in the high altitude of about 14,100ft. mostly are found on the slopes of three of the dormant volcanoes.
Mountain gorillas are only endemic to the Virunga Region (Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda, Virunga National Park in DR. Congo and Volcanoes National Park) and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda. According to the recent gorilla census conducted in 2019, there are only about 1060 gorillas still existing in the world. These only reside in two regions of Bwindi and Virunga.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Situated in the Southwestern Uganda, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park protects over half of the world’s population of mountain gorillas. The park is a significant forest for conservation of a huge bio-diversity comprising of unique world species that is why it is recognized as a UNESCO site.
Gorilla trekking at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park gives you many opportunities than other parks in the world.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has 4 sectors where one can track gorilla, these include Buhoma sector, Rushaga Sector, Ruhija Sector and Nkuringo sector with 19 habituated gorilla families and 140 permits available for gorilla trekking daily.
The Virunga Conservation Areas
This tri-Virunga Zone is the world’s most famous mountain gorilla destination shared among there countries, this region comprises of Virunga Mountains of Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda and Virunga National Park in DR. Congo.
The Virunga Mountains protects the remaining half of the world’s mountain gorillas.
Threats and Conservation of the Mountain Gorillas
In the early 1980s, the main threats of the gorillas include encroachment, poaching, civil unrest and habitant lose. Because of these threats, the gorillas nearly seized to exist but the emergent of quite a lot of nature mouthpieces operated tremendously to guarantee the future of mountain gorillas.
The efforts of Diani Fossey on conservation of the mountain gorillas generally sparked many nature organs to consider the protection of the mountain gorillas. The works of Diani Fossey helped to eliminate most of the activities which threatened the existence of the species, she established a Digit Gorilla Fund between Mount Karisoke and Mount Bisoke in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda which aimed at collecting funds to finance the conservation activities of the gorillas which currently is still operational.
The International Gorilla Conservation Program is the main international non-governmental organization involved in conservation of mountain gorillas, this organization was established in 1991 as a joint effort of the African Wildlife Foundation, Fauna & Flora International and the World-Wide Fund for Nature.
Conservation has shifted to sundry levels, from local to international and involves protection and law enforcement as well as research and education which now it involves the local minors.
In the early 1900s, governments decided to evict all people who stayed in the montane forests where gorillas inhabit these included Virunga Montane Forest and Bwindi to create a favorable environment for the gorillas. Today, gorillas have transferred a lot of people’s lives in many levels from conservationists, tour operators, guides as well as local communities both directly and indirectly.
Mountain Gorillas Trekking and Habituation
Mountain gorillas are generally gentle and very shy though they are physically very strong. However, they are emotion and can reach to any threat to defend their families. Mountain gorillas before they are ready for human interferences, they undergo a gorilla habituation experience which lasts for about 2 years and on a daily basis by researchers who farther approve whether these species are ready for trekking.
Gorillas are trekked in a group of only 8 people led by an armed guide to trek a single habituated gorilla family daily, trekkers have to first secure a gorilla permit. Gorilla trekking is the highlights of all other Africa’s adventures, very competitive where demand surpasses the supply, to trek gorillas you need to book a trekking permit at least 3 months before your trekking date.
Cost of mountain Gorilla Trekking Permit
The cost of gorilla permits varies in which country you plan to have a gorilla encounter, Rwanda is branded an upmarket destination due to its hiked gorilla permit which is USD 1500.
Gorilla permit in Uganda costs USD 700 and in DR. Congo it is cheaper costing USD 450
