Do gorillas drink water? Mountain Gorillas are generally terrestrial animals that thrive in the rainforests of East and Central Africa, specifically in three countries: Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
This is the only region where they are found in the whole world. They are very powerful and have a commanding appearance.
Like their name suggests, they live in mountainous areas in the Virunga region.
The region is also known as Virunga because of the volcanoes that surround it and the fertile soils of the volcanoes that support the proper growth of trees and vegetation on which mountain gorillas feed and breed.
Gorillas do not actually drink water.
This is because they consume a lot of succulent leaves and fruits, as well as plants with dew.
They sometimes consume flowers that are packed with high amounts of water.
They also feed on roots and stems of trees that provide necessary water for their bodies since they feed on them most of the day.
Additionally, they consume small insects such as ants and worms, as well as seeds, which are important for digestion.
They have a strong and straight alimentary canal that provides the required room for the digestion of over 100 plant species consumed by gorillas.
So normally, it is not common to see gorillas looking for a source of water to drink.
Mountain gorillas can eat up to 142 plant species, with 86% consisting of shoots, stems, and leaves commonly found in their natural habitat.
Fruits make up 2% of their diet, flowers 3%, and roots 7%. Mountain gorillas have long and strong canines that enable them to chew vegetation, including bamboo.
They spend almost a full day feeding; male gorillas can consume up to 30 kilograms of vegetation in a day, while females can eat up to 18 kilograms.
They start foraging at 6 am early in the morning, taking a rest during midday, and then foraging again in the afternoon. In the late evening, at around 6 pm, mountain gorillas make their nests where they sleep until morning.
In conclusion, you will not find a mountain gorilla at a water source drinking water because mountain gorillas do not actually drink water.
Instead, their diet is full of vegetables and fruits that contain enough water for their bodies.
