Mountain Gorilla Lifespan – Mountain gorillas are one of the most endangered primates, with about 1,000 individuals remaining in the wild.
These intelligent creatures inhabit the forests of the Virunga mountains in East and Central Africa, in the countries of Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The national parks where they are found include Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park in Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, and Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
These magnificent creatures share 98% of their DNA with humans and are often referred to as human cousins.
Mountain gorillas exhibit human-like behaviors such as showing sadness, grooming, playing, laughing, and living in groups called families, which are led by a dominant male silverback responsible for the group.
Female mountain gorillas reach sexual maturity at 9 years old, with a gestation period of 8.5 months, and they give birth every 3-4 years.
Males become sexually mature at the age of 10 years but typically reproduce at 15 years.
How long can Mountain Gorillas live?
Mountain gorillas live for 30-40 years, and the older ones are usually identified by the white fur that develops on their backs.
As they age, they often suffer from arthritis caused by damaged and weak bones in their legs and arms, making it difficult for them to feed and travel like other group members.
The old gorillas usually lose their teeth like humans and can die due to old age.
When a mountain gorilla is old, other group members take care of it, and as a silverback gets older, a younger and stronger group leader will take over the family.
Diet
Mountain gorillas feed on leaves, shoots, stems, and fruits, along with some small insects.
Ultimately, mountain gorillas are great apes worth spending time with due to their incredible intelligence.
