Where Are Mountain Gorillas Found in The World?
Where Are Mountain Gorillas Found in The World? Mountain gorillas are renowned as the world’s great species and can only be found in three countries Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo as early mentioned. In Uganda mountain gorillas can be found in two national parks Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. In Congo mountain gorillas are found in Virunga National park while in Rwanda destinations are found in the great Volcanoes National Park.
In Congo, there are not only mountain gorillas but also lowland gorillas ‘’Eastern and Western’’ which can also be found in Cameroon and other countries in west and central Africa. However, the overall population of western lowland gorillas is around 250,000 whereas the number of eastern lowland gorillas has decreased to less than 8,000. Note, mountain gorillas are given too much care because they cannot survive in captivity like the lowland gorillas. Currently, mountain gorillas are about 1065 individuals that still exist in the world. In 2018 mountain gorillas were listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List
There number some time faces threats that have led to their decline in numbers such as habitat loss, disease, charcoal making, and poaching though the government and certain organizations have come up to rehabilitate the gorilla conservation areas with regular monitoring.
Note, Mountain gorillas cannot survive in the captivity of a zoo
Facts About Mountain Gorillas in the World;
Male mountain gorillas can stand a height of about 161 to 171 cm.
Male mountain gorillas weigh about 120 -191 kilograms and female mountain gorillas can weigh 70 -98 kilograms.
Adult males are called silverbacks because a saddle of gray or silver-colored hair develops on their backs with age. However, when they grow old their hair becomes shorter than on most other body parts.
They live in two isolated groups one in the Virunga Volcanoes that spans 3 national parks in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo ‘’DRC’’ and one in Bwindi Impenetrable National park Uganda which joins Sarambwe Nature Reserve.
Mountain gorillas are found in high-altitude montane and bamboo forest which is surrounded by beautiful settlements, Where Are Mountain Gorillas Found in The World?.
Mountain gorillas are known as herbivores – which feed on leaves, shoots, and stems of 142 plant species. They also feed on bark, roots, flowers, and fruits as well as small invertebrates.
Mountain gorillas share around 98% of our DNA with gorillas.
They are known as the most powerful living primates in the wild.
They can eat all day long and 85% of their diet is made up of leaves, shoots, and stems and can also eat larvae, snails, ants, and even roots, bark, and rotting wood.
Mountain gorillas like cozying up at night –sleeping in nests that they build in the evening on the ground or on top of tree branches.
They have 16 different types of calls including short barks when they’re mildly alarmed, beating their chests, and using vocalizations such as roaring or hooting.
Mountain gorillas live in family groups of around 30 and above individuals including one dominant male and lots of females. Yet both males and females in the group take care of their infants by hugging, carrying, and playing with them.
They can live a life span of over 40 years old. The male grown between 8 – 12 years are called blackbacks. From the age of 12 years old, they can start developing a silver section of hair over their back and hips thus naming them silverback.
They can go under threat of poaching and human encroachment.
Mountain Gorillas in Uganda
In Uganda, mountain gorillas are found in two respective destinations; Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla Forest National Park both located in the southwestern region of Uganda, estimating 8 to 9 hours’ drive from Kampala to each destination. The presence of the two, Bwindi Impenetrable National park hosts a high population of the world’s mountain gorillas that still exist. The park boasts around 650 mountain gorillas of the remaining total of about 1065 individuals, Where Are Mountain Gorillas Found in The World?
Note, one planning to trek–track gorillas, you have to buy a gorilla permit that allows you to access their natural environment. A gorilla permit in Uganda can be bought directly from ‘’UWA’’ Uganda Wildlife Authority through the help of the tour guide.
Uganda Gorilla Trekking Permits cost USD700 per person per day – nonforeigners, USD600 for foreign residents, and East African Citizens buy USD250,000.
Gorilla Habituation Experience –A full-day activity that is only done in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Gorilla habituation costs USD 1,500 per person per trek.
Mountain Gorillas in Rwanda
In Rwanda, primate lovers can find them in Volcanoes National Park ‘’Parc National des Volcans’’. Volcanoes National Park is located in the northwestern region of the country and is bordered by Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and the Democratic Republic of Congo –Virunga National Park, Where Are Mountain Gorillas Found in The World?
Due to existing of mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park, it’s all about the great works of Dian Fossey who undertook in starting up gorilla research which has helped in the conservation of the primates in the area.
Gorilla permits in Rwanda can be got via the ‘’RDB’’ Rwanda Development Board – which is represented as a government body responsible for issuing gorilla permits to see the gorillas in Volcanoes National Park of Rwanda. Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Permit costs USD 1500 per person per trek.
Mountain Gorillas in the Democratic Republic of Congo
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, you can see gorillas in Virunga National Park which is bordered by both Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and Uganda’s Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Although, Congo ‘’DRC’’ has been disturbed by internal conflicts for many years whereby supportive organizations have come up to partner with them to enable the study and preservation of the habitat for mountain gorillas.
