Silverback Gorillas: Role, Behaviour and Leadership in Gorilla Groups.
Silverback gorillas are the biggest primates in the world, and they are among the most spectacular sights of any African ecotour or wildlife safari vacation. The humans’ closest living relatives are the great apes, and among them, gorillas share the most DNA with us at 98% after our closest relatives, bonobos and chimpanzees, which makes them a fascinating subject for biological and conservation research and these magnificent natural creatures.
Habitat and Distribution
Gorillas can only be found in the tropical rainforests of East, Central, and Western Africa. The most famous destinations for gorilla trekking include the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda, and the Odzala-Kokoua National Park in the Republic of Congo. These areas are renowned for their rich biodiversity and are where travellers have their best chance to interact up close with these magnificent animals.
Current estimates indicate there are over 300,000 Western Lowland Gorillas, 5,000 Eastern Lowland Gorillas, more than 1,000 Mountain Gorillas, and fewer than 400 Cross River Gorillas. All subspecies of gorilla are listed as critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. The wild population of gorillas has decreased dramatically in the past century because of human activities, including habitat destruction, poaching, and disease.
Silverback Gorilla: Size, Height, and Lifespan
Gorillas are social animals that stay in groups, also known as families. The family is led by a mature male Silverback. “Silverback” does not imply a specific gorilla species; rather, it refers to a mature male gorilla. Silverback gorillas can easily be distinguished by the silver or greyish-white colour of their hair on their back.
A male gorilla attains the status of Silverback at the age of 12 to 13 years. At this time, the hair on their back turns silvery white. Before attaining the status of Silverback, male gorillas are referred to as “blackbacks”, which refers to young male gorillas that have grown too old to be considered juveniles but have yet to mature.
In terms of size, Silverback gorillas are much larger than females. An adult male gorilla weighs 270 kilograms (600 pounds), which is approximately 1.7 metres (5.6 feet) in height when they stand upright. They also have a larger head and body than females. This is because they are at the top of their family.
The lifespan of wild gorillas varies from 35 to 40 years; however, some may live longer in captivity.
Behaviour and Social Structure
Male gorillas usually reach full maturity at the age of 8 years. During this period, some males may leave their original group to live either alone or in bachelor groups. Other males may decide to remain loyal to their original families. Males that leave their original group are usually referred to as Blackbacks until they reach full maturity. Once they reach full maturity, they are referred to as ‘silverbacks‘ due to their characteristic silver hair and large size.
A single blackback or silverback may try to challenge the silverback of a group to become the leader of the group. If he is not successful in his attempt to become the leader of the group, he may try to attract females from the original group to start his own family. The success of these efforts depends on the loyalty of females to their original group.
It is worth noting that some males may spend their whole life with their original group, especially in the case of the mountain gorillas, where they serve as protectors rather than challengers. This is not common among the Western Lowland gorillas.
Where to See Silverback Gorillas: Eco-Tourism and Gorilla Trekking
Travel enthusiasts who are interested in exploring ecotourism and gorilla trekking adventures will find that seeing silverback gorillas provides a unique experience. The most common locations for gorilla safaris are Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda, and Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In these national parks, tourists will have the opportunity to meet a silverback gorilla that leads a gorilla family that may comprise many females, juveniles, and infants. The Silverback is the leader of the group; he controls the activities of the group, including feeding, sleeping, and mating. A tour of gorilla trekking usually takes the form of a trek through lush forests, which provides an immersive experience in ecotourism. Viewing a Silverback in its natural environment is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that helps to raise awareness for these magnificent animals.
Strength of a silverback gorilla
A mature silverback gorilla is twice the weight of an adult male. They are over 9 times stronger than an adult male. The strength of a silverback gorilla is not only in their weight; they also have massive muscles. Will a strong adult male have a chance in a duel with a silverback gorilla? While no fight has been reported between an adult male and a silverback gorilla, it is clear who would win. A silverback gorilla would beat an angry, mature man to a pulp because of their strength. However, silverback gorillas are non-aggressive except when threatened.
What do Silverback gorillas eat
Silverback gorillas are secondary consumers of the herbivores, as pieces, which consist of fruits, shoots, and leaves. They also eat insects, such as termites and ants, and these gorillas give them more protein. The mountain gorilla, a distinct class of gorillas, inhabits volcanic mountain ranges and has a unique diet that sets it apart from other gorillas. Their main source of food includes stems and leaves.
The mountain gorillas may also have fungi, flowers, and bark in their diet. The mountain gorillas have a more varied diet compared to other gorillas because their living environment has a variety of vegetation, thus providing a more nutritious diet compared to other gorillas. The diet of all gorillas varies according to the seasons.
During the rainy season, their main source of food includes fruits and vegetation, but in the dry season, their main source of food includes other plants. It is quite surprising that despite their enormous strength, gorillas are herbivorous and do not eat meat, which is quite unusual among other primates.
Are Silverback Gorillas Aggressive?
The dominant silverback who wields power and strength, then, is the leader who always brings neutrality to the group, as well as leading the silverbacks with his peace in the rainforest; he is the leader for peace in nature. Though a silverback is not an aggressive animal, it will fight to the death to protect its family if it thinks they’re in danger. They might be rival males from other gorilla families, discontent or problematic group members, predators such as leopards, or even humans getting too close in national parks or reserves. In terms of ecotourism and gorilla trekking safaris, it is important to know about silverback behaviour. The ‘chest drumming’ when a silverback detects a threat is a warning.
If these demonstrations do not work to eliminate the danger, the silverback could also make a bluff charge, running on all fours to indicate his power around him. But if the intruder does not run away, he might engage in a fight, defending his family, mainly the babies, with his hands or teeth. This behaviour also emphasises the need to respect gorilla trekking rules in various national parks such as Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
Unfortunately, poachers and illegal wildlife traffickers also target silverbacks because they know that by killing the dominant male in the group, they can capture infant gorillas to sell in the illegal pet trade. Responsible tourism and conservation efforts are essential in preserving these magnificent creatures and their ecosystem.
Where to see silverback gorillas
Where are silverback gorillas found? Silverback gorillas are found in the dense forests of East, Central, and Western Africa. Lowland gorillas are usually spotted in the forests and swamps along the Congo River basin. Mountain gorillas are mostly spotted within the wider Virunga region and within the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Generally speaking, if you are interested in seeing wild eastern lowland gorillas, you have to visit Maiko National Park, Kahuzi-Biega National Park, Tayna Gorilla Reserve, Itombwe Massif, and Usala Forest.
Western lowland gorillas are more widespread and are spotted within Gabon, DRC, Angola, CAR, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, and Congo. Mountain gorillas are spotted within Mgahinga National Park, Uganda; within Bwindi National Park, Uganda; within Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda; and within Virunga National Park, Congo.
