Behavior Patterns and Social Structure of Mountain Gorillas

Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Virunga National Park in Congo, and Bwindi and Mgahinga National Park in Uganda are the habitats of mountain gorillas, an endangered species of primates.

Next to bonobos and chimpanzees, they are the closest counterparts of humans.

Silverbacks dominate the communities in which mountain gorillas reside, which are herbivores.

A grey patch of hair that develops on the backs of silverbacks as they mature is the reason they are named as such.

Humans and, occasionally, leopards are the primary predators of mountain gorillas.

Behaviors of Mountain Gorillas

The social structure of mountain gorillas is characterized by clusters of 5–30 individuals.

Silverbacks, juveniles, infants, subadults, and females constitute the groups. One primary silverback is responsible for overseeing all group activities on a daily basis.

In comparison to the bond between males and females, the relationship between females is relatively feeble. The silverbacks will stop at nothing to safeguard their communities, even if it results in their deaths.

Mountain gorillas frequently take a break during the midday, which facilitates group cohesion. Female mountain gorillas groom their young and engage in social interactions with other juvenile members of their group during this time.

Leaves, fruits, celery, bamboo stalks, roots, stems, fruits, and occasionally ants, termites, and insects comprise the primary diet of mountain gorillas. They do not consume water because the sustenance they consume is sufficient to provide moisture. Approximately 100 vegetation species are consumed by gorillas.

Mountain gorillas are apprehensive of caterpillars and chameleons for reasons that remain obscure. Even infant mountain gorillas, who are inclined to pursue creeping creatures, will yield to a chameleon or caterpillar.

A male mountain gorilla is pursued by a female mountain gorilla during the mating process. The female will not mate again until four years have passed after the baby is delivered, and the gestation period is approximately eight and a half months.

Up to the age of three or four years, female mountain gorillas continue to breastfeed their infants. The birth rate is extremely low due to the fact that females have only 1-2 fertile days per month. At birth, a newborn mountain gorilla may weigh approximately four pounds.

On a daily basis, mountain gorillas construct new nests from the branches of trees and the foliage that surround them. They typically feed for the first 3-4 hours of the day before taking a midday break, and they resume foraging in the afternoon.

Mountain gorillas are typically timid and gentle creatures; however, they may exhibit aggressive and violent behavior when they are insecure or disturbed.

They typically charge by tearing and tossing vegetation, beating their chests, and emitting loud hoots and grunts.

Mountain gorillas are apprehensive about water and are averse to rain and getting soaked. To prevent themselves from becoming soaked, they frequently employ logs to traverse any bodies of water.

Mountain gorillas congregate in a group and remain immobile for an extended period of time in order to regulate their body temperature during periods of low temperatures.

Young mountain gorillas are known to be extremely playful and occasionally participate in activities such as wrestling and somersaults. Silverbacks are occasionally observed engaging in play with females.