What do gorillas eat all day in the Jungle?
What do gorillas eat all day in the Jungle? : What do gorillas eat? Gorilla are intelligent mammals that are closely related to humans with DNA of 98%. However, gorillas mainly have vegetarian diet or feeding on stems, bamboo shoots and fruits. The western lowland gorillas their diet is on termites and ants and usually break open termite nests to eat the larvae. More so, Gorillas are endangered species and conservation is at hand to protect them from extinction. Both subspecies listed as Critically Endangered on the ‘’IUNC’’ Red List.
In general, gorillas are the largest land dwelling primates, that make their homes in central and east Africa. They have a common function in a well-developed social structure and often exhibit behavior and emotions similar to those of human experience such as laughter and sadness. But they face human threatening of poaching, diseases and habitat destruction. For this matter, WWF is working in hand to designate new protected areas where populations can thrive.
Food Preferences and Resources-Gorilla’s diet
Gorilla’s diet varies by subspecies and seasonality;
Mountain gorilla’s subspecies consumes parts of at least 142 plant species and only 3 types of fruits available due to high altitude. About 86% of their diets are leaves, shoot and stems ,76% is roots ,3% is flower ,2% is fruit and ants, small invertebrates as well as grubs. They can also eat up to 34 kilograms of vegetation in a day and adult females can eat about 18 kilograms of vegetation in a day. Also live in places where there’s a lot of food and several vegetation zones.
Mountain gorillas, start early morning, rest at midday and again feed afternoon up to night hours.
Eastern lowland gorillas; This subspecies consumes at least 104 plant species.
Western lowland gorilla; This subspecies consumes parts of at least 97 plant species. And 67% of their diet is fruit ,17% is leaves, seeds and stems and 3% is termites and caterpillar.
Cross River gorillas; This subspecies their diet is not well studied just like other subspecies. However, their diet has been studied through fecal matter including fruits, leaves, stems, piths and some invertebrates.
Generally, gorillas are able to survive on vegetation including leaves, stems, roots, vines, trees, herbs and grasses but such vegetation has relatively low nutritional quality. Therefore, they consume a larger quantity but available all year around.
How do Gorillas Collect their Food?
Gorillas can use their incredible strength to break apart vegetation. An adult male for example can break apart a whole banana tree to get to the interior tender pith.
Gorillas are selective foragers. Of whom usually eat parts of vegetation. Types of diet they may eat include; leaves, pith, stalk and roots of a particular plant. They also use their agile lips and hand to manipulate the vegetation for the particular portion they want to eat.
It has been documented that Gorillas use their hair on the back of their hands to absorb water and then suck it for thirty.
Gorillas are warm blooded mammals who occupy the forest floors of tropical forests. They have thumbs that help them to peel fruits and bamboo shoots like mountain gorillas.
They also use their canines for fighting with other male gorillas.
Mountain Gorillas Subspecies-Safaris
When you book a gorilla trekking tour ,book your permits in advance because during peak season permits can be on high sale ,in the months of June to September and December to February .One hour is allowed to observe the mountain gorillas feeding and you can be amazed on how the gorillas spend their time all day long in the jungle ,if you decide to engage in gorilla habituation experience .There are several trips we offer on Uganda Gorilla trekking tours ,Rwanda Gorilla tours and Congo Virunga Gorilla Safaris. If you don’t hesitate to book with us Achieve Global Safaris.
Mountain gorillas can be encountered in their natural habitats, visiting Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable forest, Rwanda’s Volcanoes national park and Congo’s Virunga national park. The gorilla permits in Uganda costs USD700 ‘’per person per trek’’, Rwanda cost USD1,500 and Congo USD400.
Only to be done in a group of eight people with one hour allowed to spend with gorillas, though the trek can last 30 minutes to 7 hours depending on their location. Allowing maximum age of 15 years old for gorilla trekking /tracking. During peak season permits are on high demand so you need to book your permit in advance and this answers What do gorillas eat all day in the Jungle?.
