How Do Gorillas Sleep? Every evening, usually 30 minutes before dusk, mountain gorillas build a new nest, even if it is just a few meters away from the one they used the previous night.
Each individual builds their own nest, and only young gorillas sleep with their mothers. Sometimes gorillas also build nests for midday rest.
Gorillas construct their nests either on the ground or in trees. Ground nests are made by pulling branches from different plants or bushes.
The gorillas gather these branches into the center, anchor them together, and bend other plants to form a rim around the nest.
Tree nests are typically built in forks of branches or similar structures and must be strong enough to support the gorillas’ heavy weight.
Females and young ones tend to sleep in the trees, while silverback males rarely do.
Gorilla Night Routines
An infant gorilla will sleep in its mother’s nest until the mother gives birth again.
Young gorillas do not typically build their own nests because they are either too young or have not yet developed the ability.
They usually rest next to their mother, but once their mother has another baby, typically after 4 years, they start building their own nests.
Before this age, young gorillas often practice building nests during the day—these are what scientists call “day nests.”
By the time young gorillas need to build their own nests, they have already learned how to do it.
Gorillas Rarely Sleep in the Same Nest Twice
On average, gorillas travel less than one mile daily, so they are never far from the nest they slept in the previous night.
However, even if they are near a previously built nest, they always construct a new one each evening.
Because of this habit, counting gorillas’ daily nests is an effective way for scientists to estimate group size and overall gorilla population.
Gorillas Build Nests to Sleep in Every Night
Gorillas construct new nests every evening using various types of vegetation, such as leaves, bushes, and branches, to form layers of bedding bordered by a rim.
The nest-building process takes about five minutes.
While most gorillas build their nests on the ground, others may choose to build elevated nests.
Sometimes, especially young gorillas, will also build day nests for resting.
How Long Do Gorillas Sleep at Night?
Typically, gorillas start making their nests about an hour before sunset.
This ensures they are in their nests by the time it gets dark.
Gorillas generally stay in their nests all night, much like humans.
However, unlike humans, gorillas tend to sleep longer, averaging about 12 hours per night.
In Conclusion, Gorillas organize their sleeping arrangements in advance by building new nests about half an hour before dark.
They never sleep in the same nest twice, always constructing a new nest each evening, even if it is near the one they used the previous night.
Gorillas build their nests either on the ground or in trees and sleep through the night.
During gorilla trekking, you may not need to search far for a particular gorilla family, as they usually remain close to where they slept the night before.
