Mountain Gorilla Population – Mountain gorillas are one of the two subspecies of the Eastern gorilla, and they are considered the most endangered primates on earth.
Mountain gorillas inhabit the tropical rainforests of Central and East Africa, specifically in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park in Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, and Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Mountain gorillas have thick fur on their bodies to provide warmth during cold temperatures, and each gorilla has unique nose prints, which are used to identify individuals.
A male gorilla weighs about 120-200 kg and stands approximately 160 cm tall, while a female gorilla weighs around 70-80 kg.
Adult male gorillas are known as silverbacks because they have a saddle of grey hair on their backs. Mountain gorillas are highly social and live in groups or families led by a dominant silverback. The silverback is responsible for protecting the family, choosing eating times, and mating with the females in the group, among other duties.
Gorilla families typically consist of 5 to 30 members.
Mountain gorillas are vegetarians, feeding on leaves, roots, stems, and fruits. An adult gorilla can consume up to 75 pounds of food per day.
Mountain gorillas differ from other gorilla species due to their larger size, longer hair, and shorter arms. They can only survive in high altitudes of about 2,200m to 4,300m above sea level.
Mountain Gorilla Population
The total number of mountain gorillas living in the tropical rainforests of Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo is estimated at 1,063 individuals.
This represents the highest population of mountain gorillas since conservation efforts began. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park hosts the largest population, with about 459 individuals, accounting for nearly half of those remaining in the wild.
The major international organizations behind the conservation of mountain gorillas include the International Gorilla Conservation Programme, the African Wildlife Foundation, Fauna and Flora International, and the World Wide Fund for Nature.
Conservation efforts are also linked to the work of Dian Fossey, an American primatologist and conservationist who conducted extensive studies and research that helped increase the number of gorillas starting in 1967.
The Dian Fossey Fund also works tirelessly to conserve mountain gorillas.
Mountain Gorilla Trekking
Mountain gorilla trekking takes place in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Each of these countries requires tourists to secure a gorilla permit to experience a one-on-one encounter with the great apes.
Gorilla trekking begins early in the morning, around 7 a.m., as mountain gorillas are active in search of food. Tourists gather at the park headquarters for a briefing, after which they are grouped into teams of eight people. Each group is assigned a well-trained park ranger and allocated a specific gorilla family to trek.
The trek takes anywhere from 30 minutes to 6 hours in search of the gorillas in the dense forest.
Rules for Trekking
- Tourists with communicable diseases are not allowed to trek.
- Tourists must maintain a distance of 7 meters from the gorillas.
- Tourists below the age of 15 years are not allowed to trek.
By and large, the mountain gorilla population is being affected by habitat destruction, diseases, and poaching of these endangered primates.
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