What do you know about mountain gorillas?
What do you know about mountain gorillas? Mountain gorillas are a critically endangered species that face numerous threats, but there are conservation efforts underway to protect them. Their unique habitat, behaviour, and vulnerability make them a fascinating and important species to learn about and observe.
Mountain gorillas are a subspecies of the eastern gorilla and are found only in the mountainous regions of central Africa. These huge apes are found in only Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The parks where you find these primates are Bwindi National Park and Mgahinga National Park in Uganda, Volcanoes National Park Rwanda and Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Primate enthusiasts visit any of the above mentioned parks all through the year to experience the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Well its no secret this summer more folk are visiting the primate parks to have not only the forest trekking experience but mostly to see the mountain gorillas. And as you visit gorillas, here is some information about the mountain gorillas that can be insightful for you on you experience.
Mountain gorillas are highly social animals and live in groups called troops or families. The average size of a family is 10-30 individuals, led by a dominant silverback male who protects and leads the group. Females give birth to one infant every four years and care for their young until they are around four years old. Mountain gorillas are herbivores and primarily eat leaves, stems, and shoots. They are active during the day time and sleep during the night time. They live in montane and bamboo forests at elevations between 8,000 and 13,000 feet above sea level.
Mountain gorillas are classified as critically endangered animals, with only around 1,000 individuals remaining in the wild with the most living in Bwindi National Park. They face numerous threats, including habitat loss, poaching, and diseases transmitted by humans. However, there are several conservation efforts underway to protect these magnificent creatures.
One of the most significant conservation efforts is the establishment of national parks and protected areas in Rwanda, Uganda, and the DRC, where mountain gorillas are given a safe habitat to live and breed. These parks are also open to tourists who can go on guided treks to observe mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.
Another important conservation effort is anti-poaching measures. Local communities are educated about the importance of protecting mountain gorillas, and rangers patrol the parks to prevent poaching and habitat destruction. In addition, veterinary teams monitor the health of the gorillas and provide medical care when necessary.
Mountain gorilla tourism is also an important source of revenue for conservation efforts, as it provides a financial incentive for local communities to protect gorillas and their habitat. The fees paid by tourists for gorilla trekking permits go towards funding conservation programs and supporting local communities.
On mountain gorilla trekking experience as mentioned above, people enter the forest, trek for a given amount of time then spend an hour with the gorillas before they exit the forest. Some of the guidelines for the trekking experience that support mountain gorilla conservation include:-
- Keeping a 7 meter between you and the mountain gorillas while in their presence
- Not using flash photography and videography when capturing the gorillas and other trekking moments
- Not feeding the gorillas
- Not touching the gorillas
- Not doing anything that will cause irritation to the gorillas
- Not engaging in anything that can cause danger to the gorillas or even damage the forest to make it inhabitable for the gorillas
- Most importantly don’t trek when you are ill, your illness can spread to the gorillas and kill them.
