How do Gorillas communicate
How do Gorillas communicate : Gorillas are some of the most sought-after primates in Uganda and East Africa at large. These huge apes bring people from far and wide places to Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo just to get a chance to visit the gorillas in their habitat and enjoy their presence.
The gorillas are social animals living in groups of about 13 to 30 individuals. Usually a male, a silverback and females including the silverbacks’ wives and children.
The Gorillas are wonders with a lot of things about them are fascinating and amazing to know and learn about them.
One of the many wonders is how these famous primates talk to each other in their day-to-day life.
So how do the mountain gorillas communicate?
You should know that the way the mountain gorillas communicate is most probably the same way the low land gorillas communicate so what we are covering today is how do all gorillas communicate.
The gorillas use verbal and nonverbal forms of communication in their day-to-day life.
They grunt and grumble amongst themselves in a way of seeking attention from each other or just sharing some love and emotions amongst themselves. They are good vibes and positive communication amongst the gorillas.
Silverback often grumble at the females to catch their attention and the females will usually respond back to the silverback with grumbles.
To an outsider the grunts and grumbles record like noises and in most cases, you can’t differentiate the one from the other. The grunts sound like “Mmmm ummmm,” and they come for shorter intervals. The grumbles on the other hand are high pitched and take quite a long interval.
On top of the grunts and grumbles, the gorillas have other communications like cough grunt – used by female gorillas to indicate they unhappy and uncomfortable or something is not going right at the moment. If the females use this express in isolation, they will be calling for the silverback to come and rescue them
The gorillas also use none verbal communication that involve stares and chest hitting and feet stamping to catch your attention. Especially if you are perceived as a danger to them. When the gorillas are threatened, they will also communicate with their posture that shows authority and power.
The silverbacks to scare off predators will usually stiffen their stance with a puffed chest to look big and threatening as they beat their chest to indicate they are about to attack you and charge.
When you find the gorillas in their groups, they will also have some inside circle nonverbal communication. Especially for the young gorillas that are playful and always jumping about.
The gorilla communication will vary depending on the season in the gorilla group. The structure, political build and status in the group will also after the communication.
There are also some communications that are done only by the silverbacks to females, females to silverbacks, silverbacks to young gorillas and young gorillas to either the female gorillas or the silverbacks.
If unique occasion likes when a female is pregnant, the female will make unique sounds that differentiate them and what their communication is from the other individuals in the group.
This communication also happens when a baby is born to just differentiate the baby and mom from others.
Unfortunately, the gorillas don’t have like specific communications towards humans because they don’t communicate with humans oftenly; but they will use the same gestures and communications towards humans as described in this article.
Mountain gorillas are found in four parks, volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Bwindi national Park and Mgahinga national Park in Uganda and Virunga national Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
