10 interesting facts about mountain gorillas

The (mountain) gorilla is an iconic ape that often is portrayed in “King Kong” movies as a savagely and fierce beast. On the contrary, the mountain gorilla is a gentle and shy primate yet big and so powerful. Tourists have a once in a lifetime opportunity to see up close these gentle giants in their natural environment through gorilla trekking in Uganda and gorilla trekking in Rwanda tour activities.

Below are 10 interesting facts about the mountain gorillas that you did not know

1. Mountain Gorillas are called so because…you guessed it…because they live in mountains at altitudes of 8000 to 13000 feet. Their thick fur keeps them warm.
2. Mountain Gorillas are found in only 3 countries: Uganda, Rwanda the Democratic Republic of Congo which share an area called the Virunga massif, a mountainous zone home to the mountain gorillas. Yes, you may have seen a gorilla in the zoo but that is a lowland gorilla and not a mountain gorilla. Mountain Gorillas do not survive for long outside their environment.
3. Mountain Gorillas and other gorilla species share 98% DNA with humans. This makes the gorillas susceptible to human diseases. Hopefully they do not catch covid 19!
4. The Mountain Gorilla is the most powerful of the great apes. The strength of one adult male gorilla is said to be equivalent to 5 – 8 adult human males
5. Mountain Gorillas are largely herbivores eating vegetation and fruit. However they have been observed to eat snails
6. Mountain Gorillas eat their dead babies. When a baby gorilla dies, the gorillas will know it is dead when it starts to decompose after which they will devour the remains. It is said the reason for this bizarre cannibal behavior is so that other animals do NOT eat the remains which would entice them to go after gorilla babies. The mountain gorillas however do not eat remains of the adult gorillas.
7. Mountain Gorillas live in small family units of about 10 to 20 individuals. This is in contrast to chimpanzees that live as a big community comprising of smaller units just like humans.
8. A mountain gorilla family is led by a dominant male. The dominant male is in most cases a silverback which is an adult male that has developed a silver wash on the back. The silverback protects the family and directs the movement and activities of the group.
9. Gorillas make new nests every day to sleep. Gorillas make new “beds” each day in the new place where they will have ended the day.
10. Mountain Gorillas have unique nose prints the way humans have unique finger prints. This is also the way park rangers are able to identify each individual gorilla.