UGANDA’S MOST TREMENDOUS SILVERBACK GORILLAS

Gorilla experiences in Uganda are incomparable to any other wildlife safaris. Uganda is popular for its most stunning sceneries, national parks, ideal climate, ultimate cultural encounters and above all its exceptional wildlife species especially the wild mountain gorillas. Over 480 mountain gorillas live in the jungles of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Southwestern Uganda. With less than 900 mountain gorillas that are left in the world, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is a home to more than 400 gorillas while 80 are found in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

Facts about Uganda’s silverback gorillas

Just like humans, mountain gorillas live in families. These families are led by one dominant leader known as a “silverback.” Silverback gorillas are the mature male leaders for gorilla groups. Their silver saddle across their backs is the only easiest way for you to differentiate these massive creatures from the rest. Being a head of the family means that silverback gorillas are entirely responsible for their families. Usually, mountain gorilla family is composed of 5 to 40 members. These mighty primates often take care of the entire family; they decide on where the family must go, where there is good forage for family members to feed on, where they can spend a night and the time to sleep at night. A face to face encounter with one of the massive silverback gorillas in the intense jungles sparks countless imaginations of visitors who get into Uganda.

Uganda silverback gorillas are undoubtedly huge. They have a height of almost 5.5 to 6 feet and they weigh at least 360 pounds. They have small ears that balance with the nature of their heads. Silverback gorillas are popularly the most muscular primates that consist of large bony crests on the tops of their skulls and backs that support the jaw muscles and teeth and they heads have a conical like shape. Silverback gorillas have much hair, long and thick in nature compared to other gorillas. This helps them to survive in the higher altitudes. Silverback gorillas have rare shorter legs compared to their hands. Depending on the size of silverback gorillas, their arms stretch from 7.5 to 8.5, which is almost 3 times that of the human beings.

UGANDA'S SILVERBACK GORILLA

Silverback gorillas begin to grow silver hair at the age of 12 years. Young male gorillas are referred as black back gorillas due to black saddle on their backs. Unlike other silverback gorillas, Uganda’s silverback gorillas are gentle and shy irrespective of their massive sizes and strength. They like socializing but they keep it within their gorilla groups. Silverback gorillas like any other primate and humans, are affectionate, they hug and play with one another. While excited, they can laugh and show ruddiness by throwing things when they are irritated. Most importantly, they are also a few most harmonious wild creatures to interact with while you are in a safari in Uganda.

Mountain gorillas generally depend on forage that concentrates around edges of forests. Besides, they also eat crops and bamboo shoots. Silverback gorillas consumes up to 45 pounds of food every day. When it comes to their sexual life, silverbacks are the only male gorillas to mate with all the female gorillas in the family. Choice is very important in life including wild Apes! The female gorillas allow the silverback gorillas to mate with them due to their powerful strength and large size. Silverback gorillas are 6 times stronger than humans! However, other male gorillas are at times given the opportunity to mate with one of the females in the group. For the male gorillas that are not given the opportunity to mate choose to leave their gorilla family to live a lonely life and these gorillas are referred as “solitary gorillas.” In Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, there are nearly 16 solitary silverback gorillas. Silverback gorillas live up to 30 to 40 years.

In conclusion, trekking to see unique silverback gorillas in the wild is the most captivating and memorable experience that visitors should not miss out in Uganda. A harmonious encounter with these wild creatures is only possible in 2 national parks in Uganda; Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Never miss exploring remarkable behaviors of these magnificent wild primates and their groups in the wild.