The
mountain gorilla female's pregnancy lasts for about 258 days. Babies are born with their eyes closed and helpless. They are tiny, weighing only about 5 pounds (2.3 kilograms) at birth. They nurse from their mothers and don't do much but drink milk, stay warm and sleep for the first while. The mother carries her baby at all times and holds it carefully to her chest. At three or four months old, the baby can crawl a little, and its mother will allow it to explore a bit. She begins to carry it piggyback, with the baby clutching her long hair. The baby develops quickly from that point on and seeks out playmates. The baby gorilla is weaned at about two years of age but sleeps in its mother's nest until it is about three years old.
Was THAT a Mountain Gorilla?
Mountain gorill
as leave signs of their presence. Some of these include:
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nests
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flattened plants
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food remains
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droppings
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knuckle prints
Even if Mountain Gorillas can't be seen, they can often be heard! They call to each other and make loud hooting sounds, especially when they are warning each other of danger.
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The group leader is the "silverback" adult male. He decides where and when to travel, rest, eat and sleep. |
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Gorillas can catch diseases from humans. Some of these diseases are malaria, pneumonia and hookworm. |
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Mountain gorillas are an endangered species. There may be as few as 600 of them left in the world. |
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Habitat: jungle or forests of east central Africa |
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Home range: 4 square miles (10 sq. km). Range may overlap with those of different groups. Gorillas do not defend their territory but share it happily. |
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Food: bamboo shoots, wild celery, nettles, bark, stems and roots, some berries and other fruit and sometimes ants' eggs. |
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Mating: female mates every 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 years. |
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Gestation: 258 days |
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Young: birth weight: 5 pounds (2.3 kilograms), eyes closed and helpless |
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Number of young: usually one. |
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Young independent: weaned at two years old and leaves mother at about three years of age. |
