THE MIGHTY MOUNTAIN GORILLAS

 MOUNTAIN GORILLAS IN UGANDA: GORILLA SAFARIS IN UGANDA

About Mountain Gorillas in Uganda:

The mountain gorillas (Gorilla Gorilla Berengie), arguably the world’s most endangered ape, is found only in small portions of protected afro Montane forests in northwest Rwanda, southwest Uganda and south-eastern DRC. The mountain gorilla is one of many species unique to these forests. The volcanic slopes
here are lush and also home to many wonderful birds, primates, mammals, reptile species, insects,
and forests.  

Where do Mountain Gorillas live in Uganda / Rwanda?

Hidden high among the forest blanketed volcanoes of gorilla tracking in the Virunga region of  east Africa; not until 1902, the mountain gorilla was not known to science when 2 gorillas were first encountered by a German explorer and eventually killed. This prepared grounds for the relationship.

For much of the time since, due to deforestation and poaching, it has seemed that the mountain gorilla was swiftly destined to be lost to the world again. Not long after the species’ greatest champion, the American zoologist Dian Fossey was killed in Rwanda in 1985-there were fewer than 300 of the giant primates left in the wild.

Currently, almost 50% of the world’s 800 remaining mountain gorillas live in the Virunga Mountains of East and central Africa, at the boarder of Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The behaviors of mountain Gorillas: 

Mountain Gorillas can climb trees, but are usually found on the ground in communities of up to 30 individuals. These are known by various names; Gorilla families, Groups or troops. These gorilla families are organized according to fascinating social structures. Gorilla families are led by one dominant, older adult male, often called a silverback because of the swath of silver hair that adorns his otherwise dark fur. Gorilla families also include several other young males, some females, and their offspring. The leader organizes troop activities like eating, nesting in leaves, and moving about the group’s 0.75-to-16-square-mile (2-to-40-square-kilometer) home range. Female gorillas give birth to one infant after a pregnancy of approximately 9 months. Unlike their powerful parents, newborns are relatively tiny and lighter, weighing 4 pounds (two kilograms) and only able to cling to their mothers’ fur. These infants ride on their mothers’ backs from when they are 4 months until they are two or three years old.

Young gorillas, from three to six years old usually depict human children behaviors and life style; much of their time is spent in play, climbing trees, chasing one another and swinging from branches to branches.

Unlike lowland Gorillas, the mountain gorillas have longer hair and shorter arms and they also tend to be a bit larger than other gorillas.

Powers of a silverback in a gorilla family: 

Fellow gorillas that challenge the alpha male, Silver back, are suitable to be frightened by impressive shows of physical power. He may stand upright, throw things, make aggressive charges, and pound his huge chest while barking out powerful hoots or unleashing a worrisome roar. Despite these displays and the animals’ obvious physical power, gorillas are generally calm and non-aggressive unless they are disturbed.

While planning your Uganda gorilla safari or any Rwanda Gorilla safari, one should not miss out on the magnificent opportunity to visit Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park or Uganda’s Bwindi impenetrable national park respectively. The lushly forested slopes of the mountains form an appropriately dramatic natural setting for what is arguably the most poignant and memorable Gorilla trekking tour in the world.