
Mountain Gorilla Defense Mechanism
Mountain Gorilla Defense Mechanism- Mountain gorillas are huge in size, this doesn’t make them have not to have predators, mountain gorilla threats predators are leopards and human beings, although leopards have the potential to kill mountain gorillas, it’s never an easy task as mountain gorillas live in groups. The leopards take an advantage of their ability to climb trees where mountain gorillas build their nests at night.
A defense mechanism can be defined as an unconscious psychological mechanism that reduces anxiety arising from unacceptable harmful stimuli. Mountain gorillas have a lot of defense mechanisms some of which can be seen below.
Mountain gorillas can stand upright to make themselves look huge and taller in order to scare away predators.
Mountain gorillas also show their strong canine teeth so that they scare the predators. Canines of mountain gorillas are very strong in that they can cause death if the wounds left from a bite are deep.
Another mountain gorilla defense mechanism is beating their chests thunderously and make loud hoots in order to threaten themselves from their predators. When a gorilla predicts danger, he makes an alarm to the rest of the group members about the danger so that the members can get together with the silverback.
Female gorillas also have very strong hands that help them to fight their predators and also move on trees swiftly. Their hands help them to lift or crush any heavy objects.
Gorilla trekking & Gorilla habituation
Mountain gorillas trekking can be done in Bwindi impenetrable forest and Mgahinga national park in southwestern Uganda. Virunga national park in eastern DR Congo as well as volcanoes national park in northwestern Rwanda. The price of gorilla permits is different in every country with Rwanda having the most expensive at $1500 followed by Uganda at $700 and lastly DR Congo at $450 in the dry season while in the low season they go for $250.
Gorilla habituation is the process of making mountain gorillas get used to human presence4 and this is only done in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park in the Rushaga sector. Gorilla habituation is more interesting than gorilla trekking because you spend 4 hours with these giant apes compared to one hour of gorilla trekking.
Best time to go for gorilla experience.
Mountain gorilla habituation and trekking in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park can be done throughout the year with consistent temperatures ranging from 20 – 25 degrees Celsius. The best time for gorilla safari is the dry season which happens from June to September and from December to February. During this season the jungle is less muddy and slippery for trekking.
The rainy season takes place in the month of March to May and from October to November. In this period you can still go for gorilla tours but you must be aware of muddy terrains that are hard to navigate. The wet season is best for photography because after the rain shower, the atmosphere is clear without any dust and mist creating the best atmosphere to capture mountain gorillas.
What to carry for gorilla trekking?
Before going gorilla trekking, you must be physically fit because they live higher on the mountains where you will need to hike. You need to book a gorilla permit in advance before coming to the country. You need to bring along sunglasses, a hat, waterproof hiking boots, a waterproof backpack, garden gloves, insect repellents, and on the day of trekking you must carry along enough drinking water and energy-giving snacks.