Mountain Gorilla

Mountain gorillas also known as Gorilla beringei beringei is one of a subspecies of the Eastern gorilla and was listed as endangered in 2018 by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). Mountain gorillas are found in the Virunga volcanic mountains with in three national parks that is Volcanoes in Northeast Rwanda, Mgahinga gorilla national park and Bwindi impenetrable forest national park all located in the Southwestern part of Uganda. Mountain gorillas can be identified depending on characteristics which include the following.

Males reach a standing height of 161-171cm. Females are smaller weighing between 80-90kilograms. Mountain gorillas fur is often thicker and longer. This enables them to live in colder temperatures. They can also be identified by the nose prints which are unique to every individual. Adult male gorillas are mainly referred to as silver-backs because of grey or silver colored hair that develops on their backs. Mountain gorillas move by knuckle walking and supporting its weight on the backs of its curved fingers rather than palms. Mountain gorillas spend most of the day eating large quantities of food that is needed to sustain them. They sleep in nests constructed every evening.

Only infants sleep with their mothers. Socially, mountain gorillas live in stable cohesive groups. Silverbacks usually defend their group than the territory. In Uganda, mountain gorillas are mainly found in Mgahinga gorilla national park and Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. Tourists coming into Uganda can track these mountain gorillas from any of the four sectors of Bwindi that is: Buhoma, Nkuringo, Rushaga and Ruhija or Nyakagezi group in Mgahinga.