Need to learn how mountain gorillas survive or live in the wild? Mountain gorillas are sub-species of the Eastern gorillas and they dwell only in the Virunga Conservation Areas (Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Southwestern Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in Northwestern Rwanda and Virunga National Park in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo) and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Southwestern Uganda.
Mountain gorillas live only in the tropical rain-forest areas characterized by varying weather conditions. Considering the nature of their habitats, there are many contributing factors that enable these rare apes survive in the wild. This article gives you insight into mountain gorillas’ daily life from feeding habits till they make new nests for a night stay.
Mountain gorilla entirely spend most of their time foraging on the vegetation in the wild. Plants and fruits make their major diet since they are largely herbivores. Unlike carnivores, mountain gorillas have adapted to surviving in the montane areas because there is no need for them to use much of their energy to chase for prey.
Their fingers are designed in a manner that enables them break shells off the fruits. The fingers are smaller than the thumbs.
Being ground dwellers in tropical forests, mountain gorillas adapt to cold temperatures because they have thick and long fur. This helps protect them from cold, flue, pneumonia as well as insect bites.
They are very sociable creatures using mainly body language and vocalization. Like humans, these primates use expressions to communicate. They live in families/groups, each led by a mature male also best known as silverback.
The dominant male is responsible for protection of other family members, find palatable feeding spots and also to mate females in his family group. In case a juvenile also known as black back need to mate, he has to leave the family and create his own or join another.
Mountain gorillas have flat teeth that they use for chewing and grinding cellulose. They feed on bamboo, leaves, fruits and other vegetation dietary.
They use arms/knuckles for walking (best known as knuckle walking). They can walk for a short distance while carrying food or when defending themselves. They are muscular and use their arms for gathering foliage in addition to movements.
Mountain gorillas are secretive in nature. These apes can easily sense and detect danger and relocate so as not to encounter problems. However, some can confront the threat especially those that are very brave.
Gorilla trekking and habituation experience in Africa
Most tourists on African safari come primarily to see mountain gorillas in the wild and this is only possible in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Gorilla trekking is undoubtedly a lifetime experience and it takes visitors between 2-6 hours to make a complete to gorilla trek. Once you spot them, you will have 1 hour of a face to face encounter with them.
A maximum of 8 visitors trek one habituated gorilla family in Uganda, Rwanda and DRC. Gorilla trekking safari tours are conducted only in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Uganda gorilla permits cost US Dollars 700 per person for foreign non-residents, US Dollars 600 for foreign residents and shs 250000 East Africa Community citizens.
Rwanda gorilla trekking safaris are only done in the country’s Volcanoes National Park, Ruhengeri region. Gorilla permits are issued out at US Dollars 1500 while Congo gorilla safaris are done in the Virunga National Park with permits costing US Dollars 450.
Mountain gorilla habituation experience takes place only in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Before mountain gorillas are opened for trekking, they undergo habituation a process that lasts for 1-2 years more or less depending on quick they can get familiar to human presence. Each gorilla habituation permit in Uganda costs US Dollars 1500 but you enjoy 4 hours face to face with semi-habituated gorilla family in the wild.