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Gorillas in Uganda

gorillas uganda bwindi impenetrable mgahinga national park

Gorillas are primates critically endangered species whose DNA is similarly to that of humans 95 -98%, they are known as human cousins, next relatives after chimpanzee and Baboons. These large apes inhabit in central Africa, eastern Africa and western low land of Africa and half of the world’s Gorillas inhabit with in Africa, 350 half of the world’s populations.

In Uganda Gorillas can be found in Bwindi Impenetrable National park in south-western Uganda. This National park is divided into four region, that is to say; In North are Buhoma and Ruhija region and in East are Rushanga and Nkuringo. Each region has a family of Gorillas for trekking. These mountain Gorillas are dark in color with brown eyes. And Mgahinga Gorilla National park a home of Nyakagezi Gorilla group which can cross over to the two adjust national parks in Congo and Rwanda.

These two National parks are known to be the habitats of the world’s mountain Gorillas which can give you the best experience to view the man’s cousins, observe how they eat, rest, play, and bond with their young ones in a way of human like and their movement by knuckle, sometimes walk bipedal for short distances well carrying food. This is amazing trekking a human like carry its own food like leaves, pith, fruits, herbs since its herbivorous and also feeds on termites and ants but rarely drink water.

They are very intelligent animals, gentle giants which have emotions like brief and feelings too. They don’t want disturbances at any occasion so a maximum number of 8 tourists is allowed to see the Gorillas per time in order not to destruct them.

Reproduction; Gorillas become sexually mature at the age of 10-12years for the females while males at 11 -13years of age. Their estrous cycle starts from 30-33days and female ovulatory at 6 years and two period adolescent infertility, they mate a year round.

During estrous cycle a female Gorilla will purse lips and slowly make eye contact while approaching the male to mount her, the female will try hard to get the attention of the male Gorilla to the extent she will reach him or slap the ground for attraction. When the female is mounted and gets pregnant it goes through a gestation period of 8.5months during pregnancy by that period the silverback and males in the group are in charge of protecting her.

In case she has a young one since they always have 4yr birth interval, the young one will stay with the mother in the nest until when the new born joins the family. After birth the young ones are very vulnerable and dependent, mothers are in charge of giving care, stay in contact with for a period of 5months, but stay nearby their mother up to 3years when they can construct nest close to their mother.

Male gorillas play a role in interacting them with the youngsters while the silverbacks has the largest supporting relationship and protection with the infants. When a male gorilla becomes sexually mature it develops a silver fur on the back for communication to other gorillas that it has grown, matured and is able to protect the family even at the cost of its own life.

Male Gorillas weigh 135 -180kgs while females weigh 70-115kgs, a height of 1.7 -1.8m tall, female Gorillas are shorter and have a 2.3 -2.6 arm span.

Their day of life is divided into resting, eating and travelling. Gorillas move in a large group called troop. It includes all the members of the family; female, male, young ones and silverback which is always the leader in the group followed by the males. During their free time they nest or construct nests with simple aggregation of branches individually for day time and night use these nests which are known as animal architecture but important as use tools.

They communicate with different vocalists which are recognized in the group with in dense vegetation, they use sound tracks of grunts and barks while traveling to indicate where about of individual groups and used in social interaction were discipline is required within the group. While feeding deep rumbling belches are heard and during resting period most common during intergroup communication.

When disturbed or attacked by their predators or enemies like humans and leopards they take nine steps of entire sequence, progressively quickening hooting, symbolic feeding, rising biped ally, throwing vegetation, chest beating, one leg kick, side way running two legged to four, slapping and tearing vegetation and thumbing the ground with palms to end display and screams, roars signal alarm or warning produced often by silverback.

Gorilla Trekking Season

Gorillas are always trekked during any season of the year from 8am depending on the location of the Gorillas and a maximum of 8 tourists can spot them in a 1 hours’ time in order to avoid disturbance and risk diseases.

It’s also surprising how Gorillas in Bwindi are known individually by rangers and have given names for identification while in Mgahinga the oldest silverback is 50yrs old and named Bugingo. Bugingo is a father to most of the group members, he has sons like mark, mafia, black backs, Rukundo and Ndungitse who love to pose around trees, females are Nshuti and Nyiramwiza both have babies Furraha and Ntanda respectively.

Have your amazing experience in both National parks for your Gorilla Trekking.

Safari trips that sight you to the Mountain Gorillas

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