Can You Own A Gorilla?

Can you own a gorilla? Gorillas are primates found in central and west African rainforests; all species of mountain gorillas are critically endangered due to habitat loss, poaching, and many other reasons but since conservation efforts were put in place and the establishment of gorilla national parks, numbers are slowly rising compared to the past years.

Though mountain gorillas can climb trees, they prefer to stay on the ground most times where they forage from all day before they build nests to sleep in during evening hours; gorillas build new nests on the ground every day even if the nest of the previous day is near. They use tree branches and leaves for nest building and occasionally build nests on top of trees except in cases of rain.

Gorillas rarely take water this is because most of their diet is mainly composed of water; they also always try to avoid water this is seen by their use of logs for crossing streams. Gorillas also fearsome reptiles and animals for unknown reasons baby gorillas always found of playing with moving things will avoid chameleons and caterpillars

Gorillas live in social groups dominated by leading silverback that dictates all the group activities and is also responsible for the group safety. A silverback will fight for this family even if it will cost him death.

Can you own a gorilla?

Gorillas live in the wilderness, there are very low chances to own a gorilla this is because gorilla habitats are protected by the authorities where gorillas are found, some species of gorillas like the mountain gorilla cannot survive for long under captivity.

Another reason why you can not own gorillas is that they eat about 18-20 kilograms of assorted vegetation per day commonly found in their home range areas.

In some countries, it is legal to own a mountain gorilla and in some other countries it’s illegal to own a gorilla but it is illegal to transport a gorilla from the countries where mountain gorillas are found just for the reason of owning one.

When thinking of trying to own  mountain gorillas, keep in mind they are wild animals and can be extremely dangerous, a silverback is capable of causing serious harm or even death to its opponent it is recorded that a gorilla bite has the strength of 1300 pounds per square inch stronger than that of a lion and a shark.

Gorilla trekking in Africa

Not all gorilla species can be seen in zoos so encounter the endangered mountain gorilla you will have to visit Virunga national park in eastern DR Congo, Volcanoes national park in north western Rwanda, Mgahinga national park, and Bwindi impenetrable forest national park in south western Uganda.

In conclusion, it is a very bad idea and dangerous to own gorillas and on top of that gorillas love to stay in their natural habitats and they are social animals living in groups so there is no need of taking one mountain gorilla to live its family.