December 07, 2021 | Bujo Safaris
Mountain Gorilla Predators: Owing to their gigantic physique and strength, mountain gorillas have very limited natural hunters in the jungle. The only known predators recorded are leopards and only resort to prey on lone juveniles and stray babies. No predator is ferocious or stupid enough to take on a fully grown adult especially a silverback or make an attempt when it’s a whole family. Gorilla Beringei Beringei commonly known as mountain gorillas is one of the most sought-after tourist attractions in the whole world. This is partly because these primates can only be encountered in the wild in a limited range of three countries. These are Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Rwanda which also inhabit the always moist forested sections of the Virunga massif spanning across these countries. This region ranges from an elevation of 8,000 feet to over 13,000 feet. The total mountain gorilla population is just over 1000 individuals and Uganda hosts more than half of these within Mgahinga and Bwindi impenetrable forests. Mountain gorillas are spread over only four national parks, including Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda, Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and then Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.
Mountain gorillas are known to be quite huge beings, strong, and muscular with shorter legs compared to their arms, long cone-shaped heads, and a belly that looks engorged at all times. An average adult mountain gorilla stands at a height of four to six feet tall when it vertically stands on its two legs. Male individuals are generally bigger than female gorillas and weigh almost as twice as their weight. Four to six feet tall when standing on its two legs. Owing to their gigantic frames, adult male individuals usually weigh 230 kg while females weigh at least 98 kg. Mountain gorillas are the second-largest primates only beaten to the first spot by their closely related counterparts, the eastern lowland gorillas. Mountain gorillas have dark black or brownish hair while older males can be differentiated from younger ones by a silver streak of hair running along their backs which earns them a title, silverbacks.
Owing to their gigantic physique and strength, mountain gorillas have very limited natural hunters in the jungle. The only known predators recorded are leopards who only resort to prey on lone juveniles and stray babies. No predator is ferocious or stupid enough to take on a fully grown adult, especially a silverback, or attempt when it’s a whole family. With a very limited number of natural predators, the supreme danger to mountain gorillas’ survival is humans and their activities. These activities can either be directly or indirectly intentional to harm the gorillas. Intentional activities range from illegal hunting for bush meat, getting babies for pets, and retaliation for destroyed plants.
Unintentional activities include the spread of contagious diseases from humans like flu, colds, and Ebola because of the close genetic relationship between the two species. Furthermore, farming practices bush burning where farmers clear farmland by burning vegetation. This is destructive to the mountain gorilla’s environment. Poaching also counts as a main threat to the endangered mountain gorillas as practiced by the locals who surround the national park of Bwindi and Mt Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Following 2002, 2004, and 2007 when gorillas were killed by the locals, most gorillas' families had to escape the threat of the Virunga massifs. Others include accidental deaths and fatal injuries from falling in snares meant for other animals like antelopes in the forest. Climate change caused by industrialization, modern agriculture, and mining are further aggravating the risk of a changing environment and therefore mountain gorillas will have to adapt which leads to occasional deaths in the process.
However, respective governments with the aid of international bodies like the International Gorilla Conservation Program, are joining forces to limit controllable threats like poaching, human encroachment, and poor methods of farming. This has been done by implementing strict laws against poaching and encroachment on mountain gorilla habitats, educating nearby communities about the importance of conserving gorillas, and sharing revenue earned from gorilla trekking with them through the construction of livelihood projects like schools, health centers among others.
This has seen mountain gorillas being lifted from the list of critically endangered to endangered species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). However, this is just a small achievement and more effort is needed to see that mountain gorillas are no longer listed in the threatened category by IUCN. You can also be part of this great course by planning a mountain gorilla trip in one of the three countries and escalating the progress of achieving it.
A traveler planning a gorilla trekking safari can only encounter mountain gorillas in a limited range of three countries: Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo. In these, Uganda Habits is almost half of the total population of mountain Gorillas located in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mt Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is located in the southern part of Uganda habiting about 400 gorilla individuals. The park has 4 major gorilla-tracking regions Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, and Nkuringo. The park is well renowned for its system of flora and fauna including other wildlife species such as Forest Elephants, buffaloes, kobs, Giang hogs, baboons, and some chimpanzees as well as bird species such as Chubb’s Cisticola, Banded Prinia, and Doherty’s Bush-Shrike are vocal yet inconspicuous inhabitants of tangles at the forest edge whilst Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher and MacKinnon’s Fiscal favor more exposed perches. The trail emerges onto open moorland reminiscent of parts of Northern Europe. Common Stonechat is abundant but here shares the habitat with many of the typical African open-country species: including Wing Snapping Cisticola, Yellow-throated Longclaw, Grassland Pipit, and Yellow Crowned Canary. In Rwanda, gorilla trekking is done in Volcanoes National Park all year round. However, gorilla trekking in Rwanda comes at a higher cost than gorilla trekking in Uganda.
Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is done in Volcanoes National Park which is in the southern part of the country covering an area of about 160sqkm habiting a variety of wildlife species such as L’hoest’s Monkeys, vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, red colobus monkeys, black and white colobus Monkeys, golden monkeys among others as well as different species of birds. Arrive at the visitor’s information center for a briefing about gorilla trekking and later embark on a trek in search of the mountain gorillas with views of other wildlife species of the park. Visitors are allowed 1 full hour to spend with the mountain gorillas with their masks on and later embark.
Travelers can visit and encounter mountain gorillas throughout the whole year especially during the dry season of June to July and December to early February. During this time, gorillas reside on the lower slopes of the Virunga Mountains and are much easier to encounter. The trails are also more navigable with thinner vegetation, and less mud and insects to fend off. The rainy season is however ideal for people who prefer fewer crowds or a limited budget because packages and accommodation rates tend to be discounted in this low season.
Organize a safari to trek mountain gorillas and get a lifetime experience to meet the endangered magnificent gentle giants. An encounter with these creatures will leave you in awe and hold enthralling memories for the rest of your life.
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