Mountain gorillas are endangered giants inhabiting the tropical rainforests of eastern, central and West Africa, they cannot survive in zoos like other gorilla species but only in their natural habitats of Virunga national park in Democratic Republic of Congo, Volcanoes national park in Rwanda, Bwindi impenetrable forest and Mgahinga gorilla national park in Uganda.
Gorillas are gentle animals but can become very aggressive when an intruder confronts a group over leadership this can be other animals like leopards, humans other silverbacks trying to grab some members from its family. A silverback will threaten the opponent by beating their chest, throwing vegetation, grunting teeth, screaming and eventually attack when the opponent doesn’t back off.
Mountain gorillas are mainly herbivores animals that feed on fruits, leaves, bamboo shoot, stems, roots, bark stems and sometimes supplement their diet with ants, insects and termites. Mountain gorillas spend most of their day foraging vegetation and only rest during midday hour when grooming takes place while others take a nap.
Bweza gorilla family
Bweza mountain gorilla family was part of one of the largest habituated gorilla group in Bwindi national park until Mishaya decided t separate and form his own family and the group split again in 2013 under the leadership of silverback Bweza who also wanted to start up his own gorilla family.
Bweza mountain gorilla family can be trekked in Rushagga sector of Bwindi national park and the group derives its name from silverback Bweza that started the group and the mountain gorilla family is now composed of 12 individuals dominated by Kakono the silvers and it comprises of 2 silverbacks, 4 black backs, 3 adult females, 1 sub adult and 2 infants.
Mishaya mountain gorilla family
Mishaya mountain gorilla family led to the formation of Bweza gorilla family but it also evolved from Nshongi mountain gorilla family when silverback Mishaya grabbed some members to start his own gorilla family. Silverback Mishaya was known fr being ambitious and aggressive always grabbing members from other gorilla groups to add to his own family which gave him a lot of injuries.
Gorilla trekking
Gorilla trekking starts early morning from the park headquarters after briefing, a group of eight healthy individuals are allowed to visit Bweza gorilla family in a day. The time taken trekking will depend on the family location and alwo phase of hikers but once the group is found then one hour is given for tourists to observe and take photos.
Gorilla habituation
Bwindi impenetrable forest national park is the only gorilla national park that offers tourists an opportunity to join rangers and researchers in their day to day activity of habituating mountain gorillas which normally takes about 2-3 years before the family can be opened for trekking. Gorilla habituation gives visitors a chance to spend 4 hours with mountain gorillas unlike trekking where you spend only one hour.
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