Truth about Mountain Gorillas after Harambe’s Zoo episode

After the killing of Harambe Gorilla at Cincinnati zoo which is unfortunate, people need to know more what Gorilla’s are really like. Among the primates, mountain gorillas are the largest, unique, shy and adorable which make them more attractive in the many primate species across the world. In the world, Mountain Gorilla’s can only be sighted in Three countries in their Natural Habitants in Uganda (Bwindi impenetrable rain forest national park and Mgahinga national parks in south western Uganda), Rwanda (Volcanoes national park) and Democratic Republic of Congo in Virunga park. This is one unique adventure in the regional attracting Thousands of travelers to experience an awesome encounter with our human affiliated relatives. Interesting, there are two types of gorillas in the wild and the world. The Eastern gorilla’s are the most tracked and most desired because of their size and nature. They are huge and sited in Rwanda at Volcanoes National park and Uganda in both Bwindi and Mgahinga national park.They include the mountain gorillas and lowland gorillas. However the second type of the western gorillas is smaller in size and less in number but look similar like the other.

Feeding. Gorillas’ love  eating leaves, shoots, roots, vines, berries ,grass, and fruits while in their natural wild habitat and Small insects spicy up their meal sometimes. Eating is one of their daily main activities in the wild because they have large stomach which demand so much in order to get filled up. The funny bit with these animals is that despite the plenty of food around them, still they will always move to other places in search for more. Their movements irritate some unfit gorilla tracking tourists but its rewarding experience to fit travelers who visit  different Africa countries for Gorilla tracking safaris. After knowing the gorilla favorite dishes, gorilla tracking travelers can now start looking at gorillas and new friends in the wild unlike the thinking that they can eat fresh. But always remember to respect all the park Gorilla tracking rules and regulations because the Gorillas are wild animals that can harm humans in one way or the other.

Gorilla silver back male

Gestation period. Gorillas spend 8.5 months in the gestation period which is approximately around 257 days less that for humans’ 265. This period allows the fetus to mature and infant are born helpless as real babies. Its takes a while for them to crawl and walk. Mother gorillas care and nurse their babies for about three year, 2 months to crawl, 8-9 months to walk and the other to adapt to being independent. Normally gorillas give birth to single babies but rare twin birth occurs in them once in a while. Twin birth to gorillas is tough because mothers always find difficulty in raising the two infants. Lot of monitoring has to be done by gorilla doctors and conservation rangers to see that the two infants grow up together and health. Movements of baby gorillas is too minimal that can only be moved from one place to other by the mother gorilla a hassle she faces if they are born two. However, there are some interesting reflexes in young gorillas which are common in human newborn babies like natural searching for the nipple and the teat fitting reflex. Same characters grow as months pass by and babies cling more to their mothers without help.

Volcanoes Park

Intelligence. When comparing primates’ intelligence, gorillas come first close to humans. Gorillas are shy, peaceful, tolerant and reserved evidenced by the large number of tourists who visit them in their natural wild habitats daily. Also there has been an increase of gorilla habituated families ready for trackers each day in all the gorilla parks since 1970 a good sign of gorilla intelligence. If intelligence was judged according to size of brain, gorillas would come last because they have the smallest weighing approximately 500gm. Chimpanzees have a close look like the gorillas but have completely different characters and level of intelligence. Scientists say that gorillas can recognize themselves unlike other animals and their intelligence develop according to the environment where they live. Gorillas live in families/groups headed by one Silver back male together with several females and infants. However, in mountain gorillas about 40% of groups contain several adult males who are closely related. According to researchers the wild gorilla forest has many roaming male gorillas who count on the gorilla population though the silver backs dominate the group until death. After his death the group dissolves or gets a new silver back but normally the son of the dead leader. The silver back intelligence is just like for a caring father in a home. The silver back makes the decisions on when his group wakes up, eats, moves and rests for the night because protecting its family is the main priority though it also goes with benefits.

Gorillas also have the most fun and interesting time of their life when they play, wrestling, hug, hold each other, and even smile for themselves in the loudest voice ever a thing which keeps them young and health though they are said to live up to 50 years of age. Gorillas laugh, grumble especially the young ones as the silver back and female gorillas watch over them.

Above all gorillas are known as unique beautiful creatures in the wild but have you ever wondered why the silver back is too outstanding and attractive? Their body is mass with striking and fearful face though in the real sense it’s a friendly animal. Looking into their eyes makes you feel feverish if not strong and being close to it is a miracle. The mixed up colour hairy body makes tourists admire what nature presents and give thanks to the park conservationist who  keep an eye on the apes and even care for them like their own children. Be one of those to meet the Silver back this year in wild by booking a Rwanda or Uganda gorilla tracking holiday any time of the year.

Besides the Gorilla tracking safaris, travelers too enjoy other primate treks such as Chimpanzee’s, Monkeys (Golden and colubus monkey unique and rare species), Birding with over 500 bird species in the region, nature wildlife game drives and water games such as rafting and boat cruises besides people and culture tourism that is life touching adventure to know how people have evolved with modernization in Africa while preserving their heritage.

Chimps in Kibaale park  golden monkey

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