Exciting facts about Silverback gorillas you need to know

A “silver” does not refer to a species, but to a fully mature adult male gorilla, usually over the age of 12. These males are characterized by a distinct saddle gray or silver hair on their backs and shoulders.

Before they reach this stage, males are known as blacks – too old to be young, but they are not yet dominant adults.

Silverbacks are much larger than female and other males in the group, sometimes reaching up to 270 kg (595 pounds). They have massive constructions, large heads and long, muscle weapons that allow them to lift or throw over 800 pounds – more than 9 times stronger than an average adult.

Soft giants with intense faith

Despite their huge size and strength, silver are usually calm and non -aggressive. They lead through sovereignty, not violence. However, when threatened – by an opponent male, a predator like a leopard, or even an unknown person – silver will first try to scare the intruder away.

This includes a dramatic chest with chest, tearing foliage, vocal and fake charges. If bullying fails, silver will attack with force, often risking his life to protect infants and females.

Because of their role as a protector, poachers often aim for silver first when trying to capture new gorillas – one of the most brutal and tragic threats facing wild populations.

What do Silverbacks eat?

Despite their power, silverbacks are mainly herbivores. They feed on leaves, shoots, fruits, bark, stalks, fungi and sometimes termites or ants. Their diet varies by season and area. The gorillas of the mountains, for example, eat more fibrous plants due to the limited availability of fruit in high altitude habitats.

Gorillas rarely drink water directly. Instead, they get moisturizing from the diet based on moisture and early in the morning cool.

Tool users and social communication

Silverbacks have shown signs of advanced intelligence, including the use of tools. They have seen them test the depth of water with sticks and use branches to paint more effectively. Gorillas communicate using a repertoire with over 25 vocal sounds, facial expressions and body postures.

Each person can also be identified with unique nose wrinkles, similar to human fingerprints – a method used by researchers to monitor and monitor populations.

Where to see them in the wild

Today, Gorilla hike offers travelers the opportunity to observe Silverback gorillas in their natural forests. The destinations include the Bwindi Indextable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla in Uganda, the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and the Virunga mountains in the Congo People’s Republic.

Licenses are required and travel can be naturally demanding, but the opportunity to spend an hour with a wild gorilla family is considered one of the deepest encounters of wildlife in the world.

Critical threatened and under pressure

Despite the success stories of global awareness and preservation, all Gorilla subspecies are referred to as critically threatened by the International Union to maintain nature (IUCN). Population estimates indicate about 300,000 Western lowland gorillas, 5,000 Eastern Peden Greens, 1,000 mountain gorillas and less than 400 Cross River River Greens remain in the wild.

Significant threats include habitat loss, transmission of human disease and poaching – especially dominant silver, which are often killed to capture infants for illegal wildlife trade.