When you book a gorilla trekking tour with Adventure in the wild safaris, some of the interesting thing to look forward too is to observe the mountain gorillas feeding. The vegetation is very dense at the bottom of the mountains, becoming more sparse at higher elevations, and the forests where the mountain gorilla lives are often cloudy, misty, and cold. About 67% of their diet is fruit, 17% is leaves, seeds and stems and 3% is termites and caterpillars. Few plants can tolerate the low oxygen and acidic soil. © WWF / Carlos Drews What do gorillas eat? The term “Gorilla” refers to a genus of animals including many different species.By nature, gorillas are omnivorous, meaning that they eat both plants and animals. They eat both bamboo leaves and bamboo shoots. They eat roots, shoots, fruit, wild celery, and tree bark and pulp. The adult mountain gorilla consumes about 18 Kilograms of food on a daily basis. They rarely drink water, since they get most of the water from fresh plants they consume. For instance they may only consume a root of a particular plant, stem of the other, leaves and fruit of another etc. bamboo is a key food and very important for number of reasons. Life in the high altitude can be harsh, especially in the volcanic areas of Rwanda that the mountain gorilla calls home. By 8 months its begins to eat and digest solid food very well. Those are better for biting and tearing flesh. These gorillas are made up of two subspecies of mountain gorillas and eastern lowland gorillas. Mountain Gorillas consume roots, leaves, stems of herbs, vines, bark from trees, shrub-sized plants and bamboo shoots. 3. Mountain Gorillas also like to eat the leaves, little shoots and sap of bamboo. and the vegetarian gorilla is no exception. Gorilla food includes leaves, stems, fruits, seeds, roots, ants, and termites. Some of herbivores have large, lusterless and flat teeth. Their diet includes leaves, fruits, roots, bark, flowers, stems and buds, and occasionally small invertebrates, mainly tiny insects like ants, larvae, and snails. In fact, this ape eats a lot of food and they are herbivores in nature. As mountain gorillas have large body, they need more food as compared to humans. The mountain gorillas live in high altitude mountain areas where fruit trees are less in numbers. There are three countries in Africa that have got the mountain gorillas living in their…, Cost of Gorilla trekking tour in Uganda - Uganda Gorilla trek Price and Budget The…, Are you searching for the best gorilla trekking destination in Africa? They also travel long distance in search of food. Among these. The animals that depend on the primary consumers for their food are called secondary consumers. Fleshy leaves, shoots, vines, grass and stems of plants make up 86% of their diet whereas 7% is made of edible roots, with flowers and fruits taking up 3% and 2% respectively. The extensive variety of plants in the mountain gorilla’s diet is the largest variety that has been recorded in any gorilla subspecies. Foods that were part of the staple diet consumed by mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei) in BINP, Uganda (0 53 0–108S and 29 350–29 50 E) were analyzed for their EE content and fatty acid composition. They will also eat fruit if they c… However, due to the gorilla’s high-altitude habitat which is not conducive for the growth of fruiting plants, only three fruits comprise the mountain gorilla’s diet. Eastern lowland gorilla (Gorilla beringei graueri): This subspecies consumes parts of at least 104 plant species. they eat leaves, stems buds and fruits which have relatively low energy. Their diet consists of roots, leaves, stems, vines, bark, bamboo shoots, and entire small plants. Note that during dry seasons the mountain Gorillas feed and consume a lot of seeds and tree barks in order to gain some water. You are also going to learn about the amount of food they eat and their food chain. We and our partners share information on your use of this website to help improve your experience. The Mountain Gorillas are selective foragers, they eat different parts of different plants. Consumers are the animal that don’t prepare their food by themselves and depend on others for their food. A bit more than half live in the Virunga Mountains, a range of extinct volcanoes that border the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Uganda. The mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei) emerges from the two subspecies of eastern gorilla. Your email address will not be published. Mountain gorillas get 86% of food from the leaves, stems and buds of 142 species of plant. Adventure In The Wild safaris is a locally owned tours and travel company with several years of experience organizing safaris to Uganda, Rwanda and DR Congo. Occasionally they eat invertebrates also. These types of teeth are excellent for chewing and breaking down of hard plant materials. The big toe of a gorilla’s foot is opposable, like our thumb, to help it grab food or climb trees. In a particular environment or habitat how species of same and different types depend for food on each other, making a feeding relationship called food chain. Mountain gorillas are mainly herbivores and their diet is mainly composed of leaves, shoots and stems. They also eat Wild Celery (a plant cultivated as vegetable), A little part of food is flowers and fruit also. Therefore 86% of mountain gorillas diet consists of leaves, stems and buds of about 142 different species of plants that are found in its habitat. Mountain gorillas are vegetarians that eat vegetables mainly stems, leaves, fruits that make 25% of the gorilla diet, bamboo shoot, pith, roots, moth and grubs. Gorillas are very important in their ecological niche, they are very selective and do not complete all the vegetation in the area they feed from. In fact, these are the same compounds that make your daily cups of tea and coffee bitter. Therefore 86% of mountain gorillas diet consists of. These creatures can eat huge amounts of plant matter-up to 40 pounds in a single day! Thistle (Producer) Gorilla (Primary Consumer) Leopard (Secondary Consumer) Poacher (Tertiary Consumer). These types of teeth are excellent for chewing and breaking down of hard plant materials. Newly born gorilla babies remain in constantly physical contact with their mothers for 6 months and nursed by mothers for 2.5 to 3 years. This species will eat basically any part of a plant. In the thick forests of central and west Africa, troops find plentiful food for their vegetarian diet. Adult males consume up to 75 lb (34 kg) a day; adult females consume up to 40 lb (18 kg) a day. Like all other gorilla species, mountain gorillas are herbivores and consume a plant-based diet of leaves, roots, bamboo, bark, bamboo shoots, as well as seasonal fruits and flowers. A mountain gorilla diet consists of mainly leaves, flowers, tree bark, stems, roots and ants. They favor celery, thistles, wood, and roots, and they rarely need to drink because they consume succulent vegetation which is full of water as well as morning dew. Mountain gorillas mainly eat vegetables sticking to stems, leaves, bamboo shoot, fruits, pith, moth, roots, and grubs and sometimes supplement their diet with termites, ants, and insects. Dangerous Diet: Mountain Gorillas’ Love of Bamboo Puts Them in Conflict With Farmers The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund is researching ways to minimize such interactions by studying bamboo growing seasons and the great apes’ behavior. Check out this rare Highland Gorilla footage. Mountain gorillas are … The diet of Mountain Gorilla's is primarily vegetarian. The world’s smallest population of mountain gorillas—a subspecies of the eastern gorilla—is split in two and scientists have debated whether they may be two separate subspecies. Here we have gathered complete information on What Do Mountain Gorillas Eat and listed down the plants that form part of the Mountain Gorillas Diet. A total of 18 staple foods that comprise 97% of the annual dietary intake of the mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei) were analyzed for fatty acid concentrations. Although their feeding depends on the nature of the habitat and the season of the year. Gorillas belong to a specialized type of herbivore called folivore. The animals depending on secondary consumers for their food are called tertiary consumers and so on to fourth, fifth etc making a chain called food chain. The mountain gorilla is primarily a herbivore; the majority of its diet is composed of … both Uganda and Rwanda…, Kampala Office: JLS Building, Najjanankumbi, Kampala, Uganda. These types of gorillas are typically found in the Central Africa including three National Parks that are Volcanoes (North-west Rwanda), Virunga (Eastern Congo), and Mgahinga (south-west Uganda. Some of herbivores have large, lusterless and flat teeth. Bamboo Shoots (Producer) Gorilla (Primary Consumer) Crocodile (Secondary Consumer), Where Do mountain Gorillas Live – Mountain Gorilla Habitat, Why Are Mountain Gorillas Endangered – Mountain Gorilla Conservation, What Do Mountain Gorillas Eat – Mountain Gorillas Diet, What Is The Scientific Name For A Gorilla – Gorilla Scientific Name, How Strong Is A Gorilla – Gorilla Strength vs Human. Mountain gorillas rarely drink water because a large portion of their diet contains water. Initially mothers feed milk their babies with their breasts. Feeding habits. The mountain gorilla’s diet is consists of 86% plant materials such as leaves, stems, and shoots. The rest of the diet is flowers, roots, and invertebrates. Mountain gorillas are mainly herbivorous, as all other types of gorillas. What Do Mountain Gorillas Eat The mountain gorillas live in high altitude mountain areas where fruit trees are less in numbers. Their diet can broke down as follows :- The diet is made of 97 different species of plants Nearly 67 percent of its diet is fruit The diet comprises leaves, seeds and stems, wild celery, bamboo thistles and stinging nettle Mountain Gorilla Diet Mountain gorillas eat large amounts of vegetation and spend about 30 percent of each day foraging for food. Gorillas belong to a specialized type of herbivore called folivore. We offer several Uganda Gorilla trekking tours, Rwanda Gorilla tours and Congo Virunga Gorilla safaris. Those are better for biting and tearing flesh. Mountain Gorilla Conservation Status Eastern lowland gorillas are found in the forests of Central and East Africa and usually inhabit areas of diverse altitudes ranging from lowland forests to mountainous rainforests. Diet Mountain gorillas eat a mostly vegetarian diet that consists of leaves, stems, bark, shoots, roots, flowers, and fruit. The Mountain Gorillas are afraid of water and therefore do not consume it separately however, the vegetation they it is highly succulent and therefore provides the water they need to survive. To achieve appropriate nutrition, they spend more time in search of feeding related activities. Mountain gorillas feed mainly on vegetarian diets, bamboo shoots, stems and fruits. Copyright 2018 - All Rights Reserved Adventure in the wild safaris, What to Wear for your Gorilla trek in Rwanda, Mountain gorilla diet – what do gorillas eat, Safari Blog | Adventure In The Wild Safaris, Uganda gorilla trekking in Uganda from Kigali, Ruhija Sector, Region of Bwindi impenetrable national park. When they reach an age of 8 years they easily ingest solid food. The composition of the gorilla's diet varies by subspecies and seasonality. Animals of this size need a lot of food, how ever these large and strong mountain gorillas are primarily herbivore. A mountain gorilla’s diet is made up of different plant species but mainly thistles, wood and roots. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Mountain gorillas can break termite nests to eat larva. Mountain gorillas do not often drink water to supplement their diet. 2. Mountain gorilla’s diet is high in tannins. The mountain Gorillas feed on green plants. Western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla): This subspecies consumes parts of at least 97 plant species. This research adhered to the legal requirements of the country in which the research was conducted. The mountain gorilla is omnivorous, meaning it eats animals and plants. You will be stunned by how the Gorilla’s breakdown large plants to feed on. A gorilla’s large stomach can hold the bulky food it eats. i.e. They begin to become independent at the age of 3 years. Mountain gorillas are mostly herbivorous, which means the majority of their diet consists of plants. But, due to the high elevations at which mountain gorillas live, particularly in the Virunga Massif area, they consume less fruit than other gorilla species. Silverback gorillas are almost twice stronger than a female gorillas and relatively need more food. Because they feed so much on leaves and tree barks, their diet is high in tannin. Strong jaws help the gorilla chew tough stems. Mountain gorillas are herbivorous. The Mountain Gorillas are known to consume over 142 plant species, they eat leaves, shoots and stems off plants and this is about 86% of their diet. More than 85 per cent of a mountain gorilla's diet consists of leaves, stems, buds, and seeds from more than 140 edible plant species in the mountain gorilla's natural habit. They are active during the day and they start feeding in the morning till evening before they get into their nests. Scientists named at least 142 species of plants and only 3 kinds of fruit. Less than 1 percent of its diet comes from insects. As a result, their diet is high in tannins. In contrast, the mountain gorillas in the Virunga Volcanoes eat only 38 different plant species, mainly Galium, thistles, celery and nettles. Ants and termites are the invertebrates mostly eaten by Gorillas, however, they also rarely eat grubs, larvae and caterpillars. They use this enormous strength to break up vegetation in order to eat the part of that plant they are interested in. The mountain gorilla spends 30% or more of a typical day searching for and eating food. Western lowland gorillas, however, also have an appetite for termites and ants, and break open termite nests to eat the larvae. Diet They are primarily herbivores. Mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei): This subspecies consumes parts of at least 142 plant species and onl… Although they eat a variety of plants-over 100 different species , their favorites include wild … It is for this reason that mountain gorillas h… These are the same ingredients/compounds that make our coffee and tea bitter. This subspecies does not feed on bananas, it only destroys banana plants to feed on the pith. The mountain gorillas are the largest and by far the strongest primates on earth. Staple Diet Determination Just l… Because of the cold conditions they live in, they have plenty to eat but with a notable lack of variety like their lowland cousins. While carnivorous have sharp and narrow teeth. These great apes can eat as much as 18 kg (40 lb) of vegetation each day. The animals that directly depend on the producers for their food are called the primary consumers. Sometimes, mountain gorillas supplement their diet with termites by breaking termite nests to eat larva, ants and insects. An adult Grauer's gorilla male is estimated to eat 30 kg of plants every day, an adult female about 18 kg. 7% of their diet is composed of edible roots, 3 percent flowers and 2 percent fruits. Like other gorillas, the mountain gorilla enjoys fresh fruit, but only a few species grow here, such as passion fruit and banana. Baby gorillas begin to walk at about 5 months, and start eating plants by 6 months . The mountain gorilla diet is composed of plant life and they are known to feed on over 140 plant species. Mountain Gorillas, as well as their counterparts the Western Low Land Gorilla families, feed on a variety of plant matter over 200 different plants that make up the bulk of what Mountain Gorilla feed or diet … Their feeding habit therefore allows for quick replenishment to occur. Thus, fruit only makes up about 2% of its diet. Wild berries (Producer) Gorilla (Primary Consumer) Poacher (secondary consumer). This dietary behavior of th… A silverback can eat 18 kilograms of vegetation in a day to support his massive body. Gorillas stick to a mainly vegetarian diet, feeding on stems, bamboo shoots and fruits. 1. They also eat roots which consist the 7% and flowers at 2% of their diet. Our Packages include activities such as: Gorilla Trekking, Mountain Hiking, Game drives, Cultural encounters, Birding safaris, Boat safaris, nature trails and walks, adventure sports and so much more! It frequently rides on her mother’s back. Like all other gorillas, the eastern lowland subspecies are predominantly herbivorous and feed on fruits, stems, and leaves. While carnivorous have sharp and narrow teeth. Among vegetarian stuff, fruits are the favorite food of gorillas and it make about 67% part of their diet if available in abundance. Compare that to the four or five pounds an adult human usually eats. At the age of 4 to 6 months, babies of mountain gorillas’ begin to take in plants parts into their. Rest of their diet consists of: In a food chain plants are called producers as they prepare their food by themselves. Mountain Gorilla Reproduction: A baby gorilla weighs about 1.8 kg , and just like humans spends the first few months in direct contact with the mother. Here we have gathered complete information on. They allow for the regrowth of the vegetation, and are constantly rotating from one place to another. Mountain gorilla food intake An adult mountain gorilla takes up to 18 kilograms of food in a day. Offer several Uganda gorilla trekking tours, Rwanda gorilla tours and Congo Virunga gorilla.! Other, leaves, shoots, and are constantly rotating from one place to another gorillas can termite! 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