Mountain Gorilla
Gorilla beringei beringei
Description
- Mountain gorillas are covered with fur. (Wikipedia-Gorillas (WikiG))
- They stand 4-6 feet, and weigh 300-485 pounds. (National Geographic (NG))
- They are very social, and communicate with grunts. (Wikipedia-Mountain Gorillas (WikiMG))
- The silverback will protect its group at the cost of its own life. (WikiMG)
Food/Diet
- Their diet consists of mainly shoots, leaves, and stems. (WikiMG)
- They eat over 100 different species of plants. (African Wildlife Foundation (AWF))
- Their diet is rich of herbs, so they do not have to drink much. (Travel Hemispheres-Diet (THD))
Habitat
- There are about 350 of them in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. (THLH)
- They live in altitudes between 7,200-14,000 feet, where vegetation is dense, and it is misty and cold. (WikiMG)
- They sleep in nests built on the ground or in trees. (WikiMG)
Adaptations
- Their fur keeps them warm and keeps insects from biting them. (Seaworld-Adaptations (SWA))
- Their skull protrudes to protect their eyes. (Seaworld-Physical Characteristics (SWPC))
- They are able to digest cellulose and extract nutrients from it. (Out of Africa (OA))
Why Are They Endangered?
Humans:
- Habitat Loss: The expanding of human settlements involve removing the gorillas. (WikiMG)
- Fragmentation: The gorillas are isolated as a result of habitat loss. (WikiMG)
- Disease: Contact with tourists transmits diseases. (WikiMG)
- War: They can step on mines placed in forests, or be removed by refugees. (WikiMG)
- Ignorance: Many people do not know that they are endangered. (WikiMG)
* Their only non-human predator is the leopard. (OA)
What Is Being Done To Help?
IGCP (International Gorilla Conservation Program):
- They strengthen gorilla habitat protection through collaboration with other regions. (IGCP)
- They work with other communities to develop ways to protect the gorillas. (IGCP)
- They monitor the mountain gorillas. (IGCP)
- They build the capacity of parks. (IGCP)
What Can You Do?
- Although it seems ineffective, simply telling others about the situation will help. (IGCP)