Monday 17 June 2013

INTRIGUING FEATURES ABOUT MOUNTAIN GORILLAS


The endangered Mountain gorillas have intrigued the interest of man, believed to be the largest of the living primates living in inaccessible regions in various dense forests in tropical Africa. Locate within a chain of eight volcanoes known as the Virunga Volcanoes running through the western section of the Rift Valley, forming part of the border between Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. These spectacular mountains and the nearby Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda are the last refuges of the most endangered of the gorilla subspecies, the mountain gorilla. Only about 630 of these giant apes remain. Mountain Gorillas safaris can be done in:- Uganda- Bwindi impenetrable forest national park as well as in Mgahinga which is part of the Virungas, Rwanda- Volcanoes National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo- Virunga National Park

 Behavior, Life Style, Way of Living

Mountain gorillas are shy and gentle. Usually seeks no trouble unless harassed but will valiantly defend its family group if threatened. Family groups are close-knit and may have up to 30 members and even smaller, the group usually consists of at least one older male, one or more females and a few juveniles. Gorillas have strong attachments to members of their own group and even when groups meet and mingle and then subsequently part, each animal tends to remain with its respective unit. An adult male is called a silverback gorilla named due to the silvery gray hairs on its back normally leads each group, serving as its chief protector and defender. Gorillas continually wander through their home ranges of 10 to 15 square miles, feeding and resting throughout the day. Gorillas scream, grab foliage and stuff it in their mouths, stand erect on their hind legs, tear up and throw plants, drum on the chest with hands or fists, stamp their feet, strike the ground with the palms of their hands and gallop in a mock attack on all fours. Mountain gorillas have a slow rate of reproduction. Females give birth for the first time an age of 10 and will have more offspring every three or four years. A male begins to breed between the age of 12 and 15 years, when he is in charge of his own group. Able to conceive for only about three days each month, the female produces a single young with in a period of nine months of pregnancy. Newborn gorillas are weak and tiny, weighing in at about 4 pounds. Their fragile movements are as awkward as those of human infants, but their development is roughly twice as fast. At about 3 or 4 months, the gorilla infant can sit upright and can stand with support soon after. It suckles regularly for about a year and is gradually weaned at about 31months/2 years, when it becomes more independent.

What threatens the existence of mountain Gorillas? 

Mountain gorilla's only known enemies are leopards and humans. Crocodiles are potentially dangerous to lowland gorillas. Poachers have also destroyed entire family groups in their attempts to capture infant gorillas for zoos, while others are killed to sell their heads and hands as trophies.

Valuable Information about Mountain Gorillas 
The imperiled Mountain gorillas have charmed the investment of man, thought to be the most extensive of the living primates living in difficult to reach districts in different thick timberlands in tropical Africa. Place within a chain of eight volcanoes reputed to be the Virunga Volcanoes running through the western segment of the Rift Valley, shaping part of the fringe between Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. The aforementioned stupendous mountains and the nearby Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda are the final asylums of the most imperiled of the gorilla subspecies, the mountain gorilla. Just around 630 of the aforementioned goliath chimps remain. Mountain Gorillas are recognized: Uganda-Bwindi impervious woods national stop and in addition in Mgahinga which is part of the Virungas, Rwanda-Volcanoes National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo-Virunga National Park

Life Style
Mountain gorillas are modest and tender. More often than not looks for no pain unless hassled however will valiantly shield its family assembly if intimidated. Family aggregations are close-sew and may have up to 30 parts and even more minor, the assembly as a rule comprises of no less than one more senior male, one or more females and a couple adolescents. Gorillas have solid connections to parts of their particular assembly and yet when assemblies meet and blend and then therefore part, every creature will consistently remain with its individual unit. A grown-up male is called a silverback gorilla named because of the silvery gray hairs on its back regularly advances every aggregation, serving as its boss defender and shield. Gorillas persistently wander through their home runs of 10 to 15 square miles, bolstering and resting for the duration of the day. Gorillas shriek, snatch foliage and stuff it in their mouths, stand erect on their rear legs, shred and hurl plants, drum on the midsection with hands or clench hands, stamp their feet, hit the ground with the palms of their hands and run in a false assault on all fours. Mountain gorillas have a moderate rate of generation. Females conceive an offspring outside of the norm an age of 10 and will have all the more offspring each several or four years. A male starts to breed between the age of 12 and 15 years, when he is in charge of his particular gathering. Fit to consider just around several days every month, the female prepares a solitary youthful with in a time of nine months of pregnancy. Baby gorillas are feeble and minor, weighing in at around 4 pounds. Their delicate developments are as clumsy as the previously mentioned of human tots, yet their improvement is harshly twice as speedy. At around 3 or 4 months, the gorilla child can sit upright and can stand with backing soon after. It suckles consistently for around a year and is slowly weaned at about 31months/2 years, when it ends up being more autonomous.

What threatens the existence of mountain Gorillas?
 Nature of Mountain Gorillas
The imperiled Mountain gorillas have charmed the investment of man, thought to be the most substantial of the living primates living in out of reach districts in diverse thick woodlands in tropical Africa. Place within a chain of eight volcanoes regarded as the Virunga Volcanoes running through the western segment of the Rift Valley, shaping part of the outskirt between Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. These fantastic mountains and the nearby Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda are the final asylums of the most jeopardized of the gorilla subspecies, the mountain gorilla. Just around 630 of the proposed monster gorillas remain. Way of Living

  Important to Note information on Mountain Gorillas
The jeopardized Mountain gorillas have fascinated the investment of man, thought to be the greatest of the living primates living in unavailable districts in different thick woodlands in tropical Africa. Place within a chain of eight volcanoes regarded as the Virunga Volcanoes running through the western area of the Rift Valley, shaping part of the outskirt between Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. The proposed staggering mountains and the nearby Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda are the final asylums of the most jeopardized of the gorilla subspecies, the mountain gorilla. Just around 630 of the aforementioned monster primates remain. Mountain Gorillas are recognized: Uganda-Bwindi impervious backwoods national stop and in addition in Mgahinga which is part of the Virungas, Rwanda-Volcanoes National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo-Virunga National Park

 Nature of Living
 Case study on the very nature of the endangered mountain Gorillas The imperiled Mountain gorillas have fascinated the investment of man, accepted to be the most impressive of the living primates living in difficult to reach locales in diverse thick timberlands in tropical Africa. Place within a chain of eight volcanoes regarded as the Virunga Volcanoes running through the western area of the Rift Valley, shaping part of the outskirt between Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. The aforementioned terrific mountains and the nearby Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda are the final asylums of the most jeopardized of the gorilla subspecies, the mountain gorilla. Just around 630 of the proposed mammoth chimps remain. Mountain Gorillas tours are discovered: Uganda-Bwindi impervious timberland national stop and additionally in Mgahinga which is part of the Virungas, Rwanda-Volcanoes National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo-Virunga National Park

How they live ?
What makes Gorillas Intriguing to Man?
The jeopardized Mountain gorillas have captivated the investment of man, accepted to be the heftiest of the living primates living in unavailable districts in different thick backwoods in tropical Africa. Place within a chain of eight volcanoes regarded as the Virunga Volcanoes running through the western segment of the Rift Valley, structuring part of the outskirt between Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. The aforementioned marvelous mountains and the nearby Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda are the final shelters of the most jeopardized of the gorilla subspecies, the mountain gorilla. Just around 630 of the aforementioned mammoth gorillas remain.

Great Sorrow in Bwindi National Park for the Death of Ruhodeza, one of the oldest Silverback


Ruhondeza, one of the oldest silverbacks in Bwindi national park has died. It was also the leader of the first group that kick-started habituated gorilla tourism in Uganda.
Believed to have been over 50 years old, Ruhonza was until recently the leader of the reknown Mubare gorilla family whose successful habituation in 1991 kick-started gorilla tours.
Over 50 community members converged to attend Ruhondeza's burial in Buhoma.   He died on Friday last week and preliminary findings from a postmortem done by the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project (MGVP) suggest that he died of old age.
 Lillian Nsubuga, the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) spokesperson, said a comprehensive postmortem report would be released later.
“His body had no injuries but the teeth were completely worn out up to the gums which meant he could not feed properly. He was also very thin and his muscles had greatly weakened,” Nsubuga explained.
 UWA staff in Bwindi for several weeks were monitoring the health and movements of Ruhondeza together with community members and veterinary doctors.
 Nsubuga said UWA would construct a monument at Ruhondeza's burial site and provide wide literature about his life and times in recognition of his contribution to the country's tourism industry.
“His life will always be celebrated for having contributed to the birth of gorilla tourism in Uganda,” Nsubuga stated.
“Although we are saddened by Ruhondeza's death, we are at the same time happy that he was able to live to a ripe old age in the face of the numerous challenges facing gorilla conservation today and gorilla trekking activities.” 
Ruhondeza's Mubare group has enabled gorilla eco-tourism to grow and flourish in Uganda. Currently Uganda has eight habituated mountain gorilla families, receiving between 55 and 64 tourists daily and yielding over $11m (about sh26.7b) annually.
UWA charges $500 (about sh1.2m) per foreign non-resident tourist and sh250,000 from east Africans for gorilla trekking.
Early this year, Ruhondeza's family (Mubare) had a fight with a wild unhabituated group, which caused the Mubare family members to scatter. Ruhondeza remained alone while his son Kanyonyi escaped with three family members.
The number of children Ruhondeza fathered in his lifetime is not known but at the time of his family's habituation in 1991, it consisted of 17 family members.
The Mubare family is now headed by Kanyonyi and has seven members including one juvenile, three sub-adults and two adult females.