Mountain Gorillas are non-enclave apes that live in groups of 3 to 40 members. These groups can have one Silverback or up to four, a few blackbacks, several females, and young ones.
They do not have fixed territories and move freely around mountainous areas in search of food. They mainly eat plants and fruits.
A Silverback is usually the oldest and strongest in the group. He is the only one allowed to breed with the females. For a blackback to gain breeding rights, he must either challenge the Silverback and defeat him or leave the group to start his own.
Females that reach adolescence usually leave their family group and join another. The group she joins becomes her permanent family.
The status of a female in a group depends on how long she has been there. Females that have stayed in the group for a longer time usually have higher status and are more favored by the Silverback.
Male Mountain Gorillas must leave their family group to form their own and gain breeding rights. This takes several years. As time goes on, the male gorilla moves further away.
When you go gorilla trekking in Uganda, Rwanda, or Congo, you will see how strong the Silverback is and how the gorilla families live.
Social Behavior of Mountain Gorillas
A Silverback is more aggressive than the other members of the group. He is responsible for protecting the group. If a challenge comes, he will defend the group. If he loses the fight, the group goes to the other Silverback.
The blackbacks do not help in fights. They follow the winner after the fight.
In decision-making, the Silverback is the leader. He makes the main choices, eats first (even if food is little), and can stop bad behavior just by looking at the group.
For a blackback to start his own group, he must have enough strength and space. Most Silverbacks get their own groups when they are about fifteen years old. At this age, they are strong enough to lead and protect.
Female gorillas are not very close to each other. They try hard to get attention from the Silverback. After giving birth, a female gorilla stays close to her baby for about three years. As the baby grows, the bond becomes weaker.
Silverbacks compete for females. One Silverback in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is known for taking females from other groups. It makes him feel powerful.
A Silverback looking to start a group may challenge another one and take females to gain breeding rights.
Gorillas use nose-to-nose greetings and also communicate with touches and other gestures.
How Gorillas Behave on Their Own
Mountain Gorillas sleep in nests made from bamboo and other plants. They build new nests every night because they move often. The place they sleep depends on where nesting plants are found. Young ones sleep next to their mothers until they are three years old.
Gorillas walk on all fours. They mostly walk on their knuckles, not their palms. This is called knuckle-walking. They can walk on two legs but only for a short time.
Because of their large body size, gorillas cannot move far. They usually travel less than a kilometer when looking for food.
Gorillas do not fight for food, and they do not share it.
How Gorillas Protect Themselves
The Silverback protects the group. When danger comes, he beats his chest, makes loud sounds, and produces a strong smell that people can smell from 26 yards away.
He may charge at the threat. If the threat does not back down, the Silverback may fight. Most times, these charges are just warnings. The goal is to give the group time to move to safety.
If the threat continues, the Silverback will fight, and the other group members will protect the young ones.
Are Gorillas Aggressive?
Mountain Gorillas have different characters. Some are calm, while others are more aggressive. Visitors only meet gorillas that are used to people.
The habituation process helps gorillas get used to people, making them safe to visit. These gorillas may even come close to you, touch you, or play with you.
Gorillas become aggressive when they feel threatened. Looking straight into a gorilla’s eyes for too long can make it feel challenged and cause it to charge.
If a gorilla charges at you, kneel down and look at the ground. This shows that you are not a threat.
Silverbacks are more aggressive with each other, especially when one is trying to take females from another group.
To start a family, a young Silverback must challenge an older one, win the fight, and leave with some adult females.
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