Have you ever wondered what mountain gorillas eat? What about a Silverback—do you know who he is and what makes him unique from other gorilla family members? How about blackbacks and baby gorillas? Would you like to delve deeper into understanding these beautiful creatures?
Mountain gorillas are certainly among the most charming, adorable, and fascinating creatures you will encounter in the rainforests of East Africa. Meeting them face-to-face is an extraordinary experience. Besides the thrilling sensation of being up close with these huge apes, it is essential to fully understand mountain gorillas—their habitats, threats, diet, and other aspects that make them extremely captivating animals, especially for travelers.
What are Mountain Gorillas?
Among the four subspecies of gorillas, mountain gorillas were first documented in 1902 when German Army Captain Robert Von Beringe encountered one in the wild while traversing the Congo jungles. They are the most commonly habituated and tracked by travelers compared to other gorilla species.
Captain Robert Von Beringe, en route to Rwanda to meet Sultan Msinga, encountered and killed a gorilla in the wild. He sent the specimen back to Berlin for exclusive study. This particular gorilla was later named Gorilla Beringei Beringei in honor of Captain Von Beringe.
Before 1902, another gorilla had been sighted by Paul Du Chaillu, likely the first ever seen, during his explorations in western equatorial Africa between 1856 and 1859. Paul killed one and brought the specimen to the UK in 1861, though it was minimally studied. Mountain gorillas’ long, thick hair sets them apart from other subspecies and enables them to adapt to the cold, high-altitude environments where they reside.
Mountain gorillas also have relatively wide, larger heads and shorter arms compared to other gorilla species.
Mountain gorillas are apparently the easiest and most common species of gorillas to trek and observe in the wild, thanks to historic conservation efforts in the Virunga region and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, initiated in the early 19th century by the late Dian Fossey and recent commitments by various governments and conservation bodies.
Subspecies of Gorillas and Where They Live
Understanding the different types of gorillas and their habitats is essential. While mountain gorillas are well-known, there are two main species of gorillas, each with two subspecies, residing in nine distinct countries across the jungles of East and Central Africa. This implies a total of up to four types of gorillas.
The two main species of gorillas are the Eastern and Western Gorillas, located near the Congo River. The Congo River acted as a natural barrier, leading these two gorilla species to evolve differently in their respective habitats.
Eastern gorillas can be further divided into two subspecies: Grauer’s gorillas, found in eastern DR Congo, and mountain gorillas, which inhabit the Virunga region spanning northeastern Rwanda, southwestern Uganda, and eastern DR Congo. Mountain gorillas are probably the most common and longest-studied of the two subspecies.
A Silverback, the King in a Mountain Gorilla Family
A Silverback is a dominant male gorilla within a gorilla family. As the name suggests, Silverback gorillas have silver fur on their backs, easily distinguishing them from other group members. Silverbacks are arguably the largest living apes, with fully grown individuals weighing up to 200kg and measuring 180cm in height.
Their large size earns them the role of leader of the entire group, responsible for defense, protecting the group from unforeseen dangers, and caring for the family as a whole. Silverbacks are highly respected and often become the oldest fathers in their families. The silver hair on their backs is a sign of maturity, much like grey hair in humans.
Typically, there is one dominant Silverback in each family responsible for mating with all the female gorillas. While most families have one dominant Silverback, some may have more, occasionally up to four.
What Do Mountain Gorillas Eat?
Mountain gorillas are herbivorous, consuming only vegetation such as shoots, plant stems, leaves, seeds, and fruits. Unlike chimpanzees, mountain gorillas do not eat meat, although they may occasionally consume insects.
The feeding patterns and diet of mountain gorillas are heavily influenced by their environment and habitat. They exhibit slight variations in feeding habits compared to Eastern and Western gorillas, including each of their subspecies. Living in mountainous forests where fruits are less common than in lowland areas, mountain gorillas are primarily folivorous, mainly consuming plant leaves and stems.
Mountain Gorillas Share Over 98% DNA with Humans
One fascinating fact that sets mountain gorillas apart is their genetic similarity to humans. Observing their behavior during trekking experiences reveals just how similar they are to us. However, this genetic closeness also makes mountain gorillas vulnerable to diseases transmitted by humans.
For this reason, individuals cannot trek to see mountain gorillas when sick, and a minimum distance of up to 8 meters must be maintained in their presence.
Gorillas Are Intelligent and Can Learn Sign Language
Their resemblance to humans extends beyond physical appearance to their remarkable ability to learn and use sign language. One famous gorilla, ‘KOKO,’ born in the San Francisco Zoo in 1971, learned a vocabulary of up to 1,000 signs and reportedly understood around 2,000 English words by the age of 40.
Where to See Mountain Gorillas
For those planning their first journey to the jungles of Africa to rediscover what was first encountered a century ago but remains relatively unexploited, mountain gorillas inhabit only the Virunga Massif region. This spans three East African countries: Uganda, Rwanda, and DR Congo. Each country has a unique national park that provides sanctuary for these magical creatures. These include Bwindi and Mgahinga National Parks in Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, and Virunga National Park in DR Congo.
Each national park hosts a specific number of habituated gorilla families available for visitation throughout the year. Mgahinga and Bwindi National Parks together have a total of 17 gorilla families, while Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda has 12, and Virunga National Park in DR Congo has up to 8 habituated gorilla families.
