Silverback Gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
What is a silverback Gorilla?
A silverback is an adult male mountain Gorilla. They are named so because of the silver/grey hair they get on their backs as they age, which makes them stand out and distinct from other Gorillas. This transition occurs at around the age of 12. Male mountain gorillas between the age of 8 to 11 are called blackbacks. Silverbacks are the largest living primates weighing up to 450 pounds compared to the females who weigh about 250 pounds. They have an average height of 5.5 feet and are very strong giant primates capable of lifting more than 800 Kgs of weight. Socially, silverbacks are gentle, friendly and calm unless provoked. They are known for being aggressive and dangerous when it comes to protecting their families and resolving conflict between family members.
Dominant silverback Gorillas
Dominant silverbacks are adult male gorillas that head the Gorilla families in Bwindi impenetrable forest. Gorilla families are usually made up of 5 to 30 members headed by the oldest silverback. A family will normally have one or two silverbacks and a number of females and young males (black backs) and infants. The dominant silverback is responsible for the safety, protection, and guidance of its family members. They look for safe feeding and resting ground for their families and are also responsible for mating the females in the group. Other male Gorillas in the group usually leave their families as they grow up to form their own families. Dominant Silverbacks are known for being aggressive and very protective of their families since they are responsible for the entire group’s safety. This however only happens when they feel threatened. In normal cases, they are calm and avoid conflict and that is where they got the name “Gentle giants”What do Silverback Gorillas feed on?
Gorillas are herbivorous animals meaning their diet is mainly vegetarian, including plants, fruits, leaves, stems, roots, flowers and bamboo shoots. They also sometimes eat insects like ants, termites and caterpillars. Silverbacks in Bwindi National Park spend most of their day eating and searching for food within the Bwindi forest for their families. They have 2 main meals one in the morning and the other in the afternoon. They feed 2 to 3 hours and in order to keep up their weight and strength, these silverbacks eat up to 60 pounds of food every day, which explains their incredible strength and their giant body structure. While feeding, they ensure to avoid over consuming vegetation from one specific area. This allows the vegetation to restore and replenish hence conserving the environment.What is the life span of a Silverback Gorilla?
Silverbacks in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park can live up to the age of 35 to 40 years. The biggest threats to the lives of mountain gorillas in Bwindi forest today are poachers, habitat loss due to encroachment by the local people, diseases and parasites. The Uganda Wildlife authority has played a great role in ensuring the protection of these endangered animals through sensitizing the communities about the importance of conservation and also promoting responsible tourism. The Uganda wildlife authority also provides total security in Bwindi National park by deploying well trained and armed personnel. In return, the numbers of Gorillas have significantly increased over the years.How to see silverbacks in Bwindi Impenetrable National park?
