The Lifespan of Mountain Gorillas in Their Natural Habitat and in Captivity
Lifespan of mountain gorillas in the world — Lifespan of mountain gorillas in captivity — Why are mountain gorillas endangered — Lifespan of gorilla in captivity — How many mountain gorillas are left — Mountain gorilla size — Where do mountain gorillas live — What do mountain gorillas eat
Mountain gorillas are a rare subspecies of eastern gorillas that roam the lush subtropical and tropical rainforests of the Virunga volcanoes and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – the ultimate destination for an exhilarating gorilla trekking experience in Uganda.
Only around 1000 individuals remain in the world. Mountain gorillas thrive in dynamic social groups of 5-30 individuals, led by a silverback who orchestrates the daily activities and safeguards the group from threats posed by humans and rival gorillas.
The lifespan of gorillas
Mountain gorillas stand as the largest living primates, sharing an astonishing 98% of their DNA with humans.
When baby gorillas enter the world, they thrive on their mothers’ nourishing breast milk for the first four years of life. During this time, they begin to explore their surroundings while securely clinging to their mothers’ backs, gradually transitioning to their mothers’ diet.
Life expectancy of mountain gorillas
Female mountain gorillas embark on their journey to maturity at approximately 8-10 years, while male mountain gorillas take a bit longer, reaching maturity between 15-20 years.
A female gorilla reaches the remarkable milestone of bringing her own baby into the world by the age of 10. The gestation period for a female gorilla spans 8-9 months, much like that of humans. However, the fertility rate is quite limited, with only 1-2 days each month when they are fertile.
When baby mountain gorillas enter the world, they are delicate and defenseless, similar to human infants, tipping the scales at just around 4 pounds.
The mother will carry the baby mountain gorilla for up to 4 months before the little one begins to cling to her back, embarking on their journey together through the wild. Throughout this period, the mother will nourish the baby through breastfeeding until they reach the age of 3-4 years.
At the age of 4 years, a baby mountain gorilla embarks on its journey to independence as a juvenile, though still in the early stages of maturity.
The powerful male who leads the group’s endeavors is referred to as a silverback, a name derived from the distinctive grey patch of hair that appears on their backs as they grow older.
Silverbacks command the attention of all the females in the group, fiercely guarding their position against both young and mature males who might seek to challenge them.
As the males in the group reach maturity, they often find themselves in a thrilling contest with the dominant silverback, either vying for leadership of the family or embarking on a quest to establish their own clan.
In the wild, it is the female mountain gorillas who pursue the male mountain gorillas when they are prepared for mating.
A female will embark on the journey of motherhood and will not seek to mate again for approximately 4 years thereafter.
Gorillas are free to mate throughout the year, without being bound to a specific mating season.
Mountain gorillas thrive in their natural habitats, where they can live for about 35-40 years.
As they age, gorillas might encounter challenges like arthritis, which can affect their bones, hands, and feet.
The most massive gorilla ever documented tipped the scales at 267 kilograms, while the tallest stood at an impressive 1.95 meters.
