

They can wonder in home rangers of 10 to 15 square miles.Ī mature male mountain gorillas are called silverbacks because when they grow old their bodies turns into silver saddle that runs across their back and hips.Īn average silverback height measures up to 6 feet tall while female mountain gorillas as an average up to 5 feet tall. Mountain gorillas inhabits the Albertine Rift cloud forest and the Virunga Volcanoes in Central Africa.

They have thicker fur that supports them to live at high altitude and in colder climates.

Male Mountain Gorillasĭespite their huge size, mountain gorillas can climb fruiting trees to feed their diet. Mountain gorillas are terrestrial and quadrupedal primates meaning they spend more time on the ground than in trees and walk on four limbs. When we compare mountain gorillas to other species of gorilla, they have thicker and longer fur. Along with Chimpanzees and bonobos, gorillas are considered to be one of the largest ground primates. Mountain gorillas are one of the two subspecies of the Eastern gorillas that live in the mountainous forest of East and Central Africa. Gorillas in the wild have average lifespan of 40 to 50 years. Silverback mountain gorillas live in the nature habitat of tropical rainforest of East and Central Africa.Ī silverback –mountain gorilla is herbivores species. Silverback Gorilla Facts : The fact about a silverback gorilla is a mature male endangered mountain gorilla that develop silver saddles across his back and hips, they are the one responsible for protecting and leading a troop of 10 to 30 individuals on where to migrate, feeding sites and resting.īelow are the major facts and information habitat on the silverback gorilla as follows These may include human beings, other animals and fellow Silverbacks who show interest in challenging him for dominance in his family. As the supreme family leader, a silverback defines the general routine of the family, including feeding, movements, and sleeping times and may even define the family’s territory.Ī silverback mates with all the female gorillas in the group and assumes the breeding rights. Though getting in close contact with the beautiful gorillas is a memorable encounter, but a sight at the gigantic silverback as he pounds his chest in check of your brevity spices up the entire gorilla trek experience.Silverback Gorilla Facts – Male Mountain Gorillas It is at this stage that they leave their mother families to join other families and gain dominance.Īlthough naturally calm and peaceful creatures, a silverback is furious and may charge at anything that seems to be threat to his family. This is the time when they develop a silver patch of hair across its back and to the flanks, where its name is derived. Silverbacks’ heads are bigger than females, due to a ridge on their skull which acts as an anchor where its huge jaw muscles are connected.Ī Silverback’s arm length is longer, stretching 2.3-2.6m, while female gorilla’s arm length is proportionally shorter. There is normally one dominant silverback within a given gorilla family however many Silverbacks can live in one family harmoniously. Male gorillas become Silverbacks at the age of 13 years. Silverback gorillas are huge beings, weighing an average of 400 pound and 6ft in height, much heavier than the female counter parts which weigh between 200 pounds and around 4ft tall. Silverback is a dominant male gorilla that assumes leadership of any given family responsible for making decisions on behalf of the family, offering utmost protection, looking for food during times of scarcity, among other vital roles. Each family is made up of between 5-30 members who live in harmony with each under the leadership of a silverback. Just like other primates, mountain gorillas are known to be social animals, which live in groups called families. Congo inhabited within 4 different national parks, namely Bwindi and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Volcanoes National Park and Virunga National Park. Mountain gorillas are only found in Uganda, (with the highest population), Rwanda and D.R. Meeting the mighty mountain gorillas in the wild is one of those mesmerizing experiences that one will always remember for lifetime. The lush Virunga ranges are home to over 1000 mountain gorillas – the only place with these endangered primates. It is very big and weighs a lot of pounds with a grey hair on its back. A silverback gorilla is an alpha male gorilla that leads a gorilla family.
