The Great Apes

[Spalea]

Wild Eye: " In a new weekly series, Wild Eye brings you some facts about the species they come across on their expeditions and tours across the globe.

This week we focus on the Mountain Gorilla.
Humans share around 98% of our DNA with Mountain Gorillas. This means that exposure to human illnesses, such as a cold/ flu can have potentially detrimental impacts on gorillas as they haven't developed the necessary immunities.
Mountain Gorillas are endangered, but the only species with an increasing population with only around 1,063 Mountain Gorilla that exist in the wild.
Mountain gorillas are found in only 3 countries – Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Mountain Gorillas got their name for a reason. They live high in the steep mountain forests at elevations of up to 8,000 to 13,000 feet.
Mountain gorillas spend about a quarter of their day eating, mainly leaves and shoots, but have also been known to eat snails, ants and bark.
At night, mountain gorillas sleep in groups in nests on the ground, or in trees, that they make from foliage. Infants will share their mother’s nests.
These creature have a varied vocabulary with up to 16 different calls. These include short barks when they’re mildly alarmed or curious and to intimidate rivals, male gorillas strut with stiff legs, beat their chests, and use vocalisations like roars or hoots.
Most mountain gorillas live in stable family groups of around 10 individuals, with one dominant male (silverback) and several females. Both males and females care for their infants.
Gorillas are classed as infants until they reach around three-and-a-half years old, and only become adults from around 8 years. Males between 8-12 years are called 'blackbacks'. Then from 12 years old, they develop a silver section of hair over their back and hips, earning them the name 'silverback'.
Female gorillas give birth to one infant after a pregnancy of nearly nine months. Unlike their powerful parents, newborns are tiny and able only to cling to their mothers' fur and will ride on their mothers' backs from four months through the first two or three years of their lives. "

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