Mountain Gorilla Size, Weight, and Height – Mountain gorillas are a subspecies of the eastern gorillas, found only in three African countries in East and Central Africa within the Virunga Conservation Area.
In Uganda, mountain gorillas thrive in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. In Rwanda, mountain gorillas live in Volcanoes National Park, and in the Democratic Republic of Congo, they can be found in Virunga National Park.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park has the highest population of mountain gorillas, with over 20 habituated gorilla families and 2 families undergoing habituation in the Rushaga sector.
Mountain gorillas share 98% of their DNA with humans, similar to chimpanzees and bonobos. They live at high elevations in the tropical and subtropical rainforests of the Virunga conservation area.
Each mountain gorilla has unique nose prints, just as humans have unique thumbprints.
Mountain gorillas make new nests every day, with young ones sleeping with their mothers until they are ready to make their own. The nests are made from tree branches and leaves.
Mountain Gorilla Size
Mountain gorillas are the largest primates in the world. They give birth to vulnerable babies that weigh about 1.8 to 2 kg.
The babies take only breast milk until the age of four years, and their size keeps changing as they grow.
An adult female gorilla can weigh up to 98 kg, while a male gorilla can weigh up to 169 kg and grow to be 4-6 feet tall.
Mountain gorillas are strictly plant eaters, with their diet consisting mainly of vegetation like stems, leaves, fruits, bamboo shoots, and bark.
Occasionally, they also consume insects like ants and termites to supplement their diet.
Interestingly, they use tools like sticks to extract termites from holes and measure the depth of water before crossing.
Fruits make up a significant 25% of their diet.
Mountain Gorilla Weight
Mountain gorillas have well-sized weights with well-shaped muscular bodies, with adult males weighing more than adult females.
On average, an adult male mountain gorilla weighs around 160 kg, while an adult female weighs about 98 kg.
However, some gorilla species are even larger, with the largest mountain gorilla on record weighing 267 kg in Cameroon’s Ambam.
Western gorillas, in particular, can reach weights of up to 310 kg while in captivity, although they often struggle to thrive in zoo environments.
The Height of Mountain Gorillas
Mountain gorillas typically stand at an average height of 1.7 meters (5.6 ft), with adult males ranging from 1.65 to 1.83 meters tall.
Females are generally shorter, reaching a height of around 1.52 meters (5 ft).
While they primarily move on all fours, mountain gorillas can stand upright on their hind legs.
The largest gorilla ever recorded was a staggering 1.95 meters (6.4 ft) tall, with a broad chest of 1.98 meters (6.5 ft) and an impressive arm span of 2.7 meters (8.9 ft), weighing a massive 219 kg.
This exceptional individual was recorded in 1938 in Alimbongo, north of Kivu.
In conclusion, mountain gorillas are majestic creatures that inhabit the Virunga conservation area in East and Central Africa.
They are the largest primates in the world, with adult males weighing up to 169 kg and standing 1.83 meters tall.
Despite their size, they are gentle and peaceful, living in harmony with their environment.
