Why gorillas beat their chests: Mountain gorilla tracking experience.
Why gorillas beat their chests? Mountain gorillas are critically endangered wild primates on earth, these primates animals are mainly found in central and East Africa. There are slightly more than 1080 individuals left in the world. They are commonly called the gentle giant apes in the wilderness and can be accessed by humans through the tracking exercise.
Mountain gorillas live in groups known as families; each member is often called an individual. A dominant silverback leads members in a specific family and a family comprises 5-30 members. Like humans, mountain gorillas have different means of communication, and one way of communicating is by beating the chest
Why do gorillas beat their chest?
Gorillas often beat their chest when they sense any external attacks from humans or other rivals. This is a way of charging so when you hear this, move away from its premises to avoid danger.
Silverback mountain gorillas often beat their chests as a way of showing their strength, dominance, and ability to lead a family.
Beating the chest is a sign of victory after a fight with a rival group. It is a means of communication used by the silverback to alert his family members to follow him.
At times if a young silverback is trying to cause a challenge. The dominant silverback, in this case, beats the chest to frighten the young one or otherwise start a fight.
Beating the chest is done by males to demonstrate fitness ability to mate hence attracting females to follow him to form a new family.
Gorillas also communicate in other ways to protect themselves and threaten the enemy like tearing and throwing vegetation, making loud sounds and grunts, stumping feet, sticking out their tongue, and making thunderous roars. All these means of communication express happiness or distress to the family.
Mountain gorillas are herbivores animals that usually feed on plant leaves, fruits, shoots and stems, root tubers, insects, and the bark of trees. This largely depends on the available foods in the habitat.
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Roles of the dominant silverback.
Mountain gorillas are the largest primates and live in families led by the dominant silverback who plays the following roles. The major role of the silverback is to guard and protect the family from external attacks. This is done through means of communication like beating the chest, hooting making thunderous roars. This is reflected from its size and strength.
The silverback helps to lead the family through making decisions on where to stay, when to move, and where to rest.
The silverback acts as a mediator within the family. In case of any conflict, he comes in to find out, solve the issue, and reunite the family. As a dominant silverback, he is responsible for reproduction through mating the females in the family. in case another male wants to start mating, he leaves the group to form a new family. The silverback is also responsible for taking care of the young ones and skills for survival and living in harmony with the others
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Gorilla trekking experience
This is one of the most sought-after activities in the jungles of Africa. It is a dream for most visitors who visit the black man’s continent. This is a significant activity that involves trekking into the jungles of the tropical rainforests to meet the endangered creatures in their natural habitat. This activity is done with the supervision and guidance of game guides and rangers. Trekkers are allowed one festive hour of interacting with their human cousins. Participating in the gorilla trekking activity is a memorable life experience.
Gorilla tracking in East Africa is commonly carried out in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Maghinga National Park in Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, and Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Best time to go gorilla tracking
East African countries that offer gorilla trekking activities experience both the dry and wet seasons. The dry season is usually considered the best time for gorilla tracking. This is because the tracking trails are not muddy or slippery and the various wildlife can easily be spotted. The dry season runs from December to February and June to September.
However, travelers moving on a low budget can move during the wet season to meet the low transport and accommodation costs. In the same wet season, gorilla tracking can be tailored to birding activities. The wet season is experienced in April, May, November, and October.
