Silverback Gorilla Fun Facts
Silverback Gorilla Fun Facts: Nevertheless, there are a lot of enigmatic attractions and activities to partake in at various gorilla safari locations worldwide. You will be in awe of the incredible facts that make the Silverback Mountain gorilla experience so captivating. These unusual animals have always captivated the interest of environmentalists and wildlife enthusiasts due to their enormous size and power.
The actual facts about silverback mountain gorillas’ lives, distinctive habits, habitats, and conservation initiatives are presented in this page. Learn how these amazing creatures develop complex social systems and display their distinct intelligence while navigating the lush jungles of Central Africa.
discovering the hidden lives of these kind giants, as well as their fascinating family dynamics and sophisticated communication techniques. Our job is to give you an authentic experience that will make you appreciate their incredible existence and the importance of preserving their delicate habitat.
The following is a compilation of fascinating information about silverback and mountain gorillas.
There are two gorilla species.
The eastern and western gorillas are the two species of gorillas found in the world. The four gorilla subspecies—the eastern mountain gorilla, the eastern lowland gorilla, the western cross-river gorilla, and the western lowland gorilla—are spread among two groups of each species.
Eastern mountain gorillas known as silverbacks inhabit the forests of the Virunga Mountains, a series of mountains that shares borders with Rwanda, Uganda, and Congo. In addition, gorillas in Uganda inhabit areas between 8,000 and 13,000 feet above sea level—the same altitude at which a skydiver leaps from an airplane!
In actuality, silverback mountain gorillas are longer than other species, with thicker fur and larger arms and legs.
Silverback gorillas move on four limbs, making them quadrupedal primates.
They don’t eat meat.
The two most fascinating facts about mountain gorillas are their size and their vegetarian diet, which consists of fruits, stems, and bamboo shoots. However, because of the high elevation of their habitat, they have a limited selection of fruit.
In addition to using their amazing power to tear apart trees and trunks, adult male gorillas may consume almost 18 kg of vegetation per day. To reach the fragile core pith, for instance, they can consume the entire banana tree.
The Ugandan gorillas are picky eaters. Rather, they harvest plants in a way that allows for rapid regrowth.
They don’t often drink water;
Since they mostly eat succulent vegetation that contains water and morning dew, silverback mountain gorillas hardly ever drink water.
The food they eat provides them with the necessary moisture. They eat for half of the day and consume a lot of food.
American primatologist Dian Fossey gained notoriety for his in-depth research on mountain gorilla communities. Primates, on the other hand, seem to detest water in general and rain in particular.
They are strong and enormous;
One of the largest and most powerful primates is the silverback gorilla. They can weigh between 135 and 220 kg and reach a height of four to six feet.
The tallest silverback, at six feet tall, had a chest that measured 1.98 meters across and an arm span of 2.8 meters.
In addition, silverbacks can throw up to 815 kg and are 20 times stronger than adult humans, making them superior to all other people. In addition to their size, they have a quick speed range of 23 to 25 mph. Furthermore, their bites cannot be compared to those of any other animal.Compared to predatory lions, whose bites weigh 650 pounds per square inch, their enormous canines can weigh over 1,300 pounds per square inch.
They are timid and kind;
Despite their size and strength, silverback mountain gorillas hardly ever display their energy in the wild. Aside from that, they are kind animals that spend their days relaxing and foraging for food. It has been observed by visitors to Rwanda that the country’s mountain gorillas are timid and reticent near people.
However, they become amiable and loving after being trained and accustomed to making eye contact with people. They are also frequently referred to as gentle giants due to their traits. When threatened, silverbacks can be extremely hostile. When this occurs, they won’t hesitate to display their strength. Silverbacks frequently charge when provoked, but these attacks are typically staged.
They merely behave violently to give their family time to escape for their lives.
They live together;
Because they are gregarious creatures, gorillas live in groups called troops.
Typically, a troop consists of one to four individuals, including adult males, juvenile males, multiple adult females, and young stars. The adult silverback is usually the group leader. The group disbands or a young silverback male takes over after the group leader passes away.
Four to ten people make up an average group. Keep in mind that members are well-adjusted in their activity patterns and have strong relationships.
They are astute;
Although they are less inquisitive and adaptive than chimpanzees, mountain gorillas are among the most cognitive animals and are capable of using tools.
Researchers have demonstrated that gorillas utilize branches to determine the depth of rivers and streams, constructing ladders to help their offspring climb treetops and even using sticks as cutlery to prevent bites when eating insects.
Furthermore, mountain gorillas are renowned for their exciting forms of communication. 25 distinct vocalizations that convey distress, alarm, contentment, and aggression have been captured on tape.
The fact that Koko, a mountain gorilla, was able to learn human sign language is astounding. She can comprehend more than 2,000 English words and has acquired 1,000 signals over her lifespan.
Their nose prints are distinct;
There is no doubt that different mountain gorillas have distinct appearances.
Researchers can easily distinguish between them because of their differences in body size and facial traits. But two primates have similar appearances. As a result, primatologist Dian Fossey created a technique for quickly identifying mountain gorillas.
Like human fingerprints, each mountain gorilla has a beautiful nose print, according to Dian Fossey’s studies.
Of the four “4” subspecies of gorillas, mountain gorillas have the most noticeable nose prints. Because of the outcome, these prints are now an essential component of monkey research.
They have a lifespan of 40 years;
Although they frequently live longer in captivity—sometimes exceeding 50 years—those in the wild only live 35 to 40 years.
The endangered status of silverback mountain gorillas
Three primary factors have contributed to the gorilla population’s decline in recent years: hunting, disease, and habitat destruction.
The truth is that commercial logging and agricultural use are destroying the gorillas’ habitat, forcing them to live in difficult conditions and causing illness epidemics.
For instance, in 2022, an Ebola outbreak in Congo killed over 95% of mountain gorillas, resulting in a fall in their population. Poachers who shoot gorillas to sell to affluent collectors who keep them as pets or as trophies pose a threat to gorilla populations. However, they are occasionally killed in traps intended for other animals.
Dian Fossey’s conservation program, which supports the lives of these gentle apes in their natural habitat, deserves recognition. The International Union for Conservation of Nature, or “IUCN,” downgraded the gorilla’s classification from critically endangered to endangered due to the recent increase in the population.
Today, millions of tourists travel to Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to join small groups of trekkers who hope to see these magnificent mountain gorillas. On Gorilla Trekking Safaris, you can spend an hour with a silverback and his whole family.
Last but not least, a gorilla trekking safari is a truly remarkable event that leaves a lasting impression.
