Mountain gorillas are extraordinary yet endangered species of Great Apes living within East and Central parts of Africa, in Uganda (where they are sheltered in two places-Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks). These gentle giants are also found in Rwanda (where they live in Volcanoes National Park) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (in Virunga National Park). Just like any other animal (including human beings), mountain gorillas also fight, fellow gorillas and in rare occasions humans.
Mountain gorillas that are trekked/or visited by travelers across the four national parks first go through a process of habituation to reduce their wildness and make them used to seeing visitors from time to time. However, this doesn’t stop them from being animals thus can become protective when threatened. This is probably the reason why several guidelines were drafted by the relevant wildlife governing bodies (Uganda Wildlife Authority, Rwanda Development Board and Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature) in the three countries to protect humans and mountain gorillas alike. For this article, we shall focus on the reasons why gorillas fight each other;
Mountain gorillas live in groups or families comprising of a dominant silverback (the head or leader of the family), other subordinate silverbacks, Alpha/or adult females, black backs, juveniles and infants. The dominant silverback has the responsibility of protecting his family from intruders (external threats) and resolving in-family conflicts. When threats are detected, silverbacks start by beating their chests while groaning and stamping their feet on the ground to express strength and authority.
This also means aggressiveness and fighting, sometimes until death. They fight with their strong hands, legs and even teeth (sharp canine teeth) until penetrating the flesh of their opponents. Therefore, the following are the reasons why gorillas fight;
Gorillas fight to protect their family from intruders or external threats.
Mountain gorillas, especially dominant silverbacks usually fight when they encounter other gorilla groups or wild/unhabituated silverbacks. Each silverback of the respective groups has to fight, using teeth, hands and legs to show strength and gain confidence of respective group members. These fights cause injuries and sometimes death of opponents, and in some cases winners grab members of the losers.
To break away from their natural families/groups and start their own groups/families.
In typical gorilla groups, only the dominant silverback has the right to make decisions on where the group feeds and nests as well as the right to mate with females of the group. When other silverbacks are denied this opportunity, they resort to leaving (peacefully or after fights) to form their own groups/families. Fights usually come when the silverback planning to leave has to grab some group members to start a new group.
Fighting for mating partners.
Because only the dominant silverback has the right to mate with all the females of the group, attempts by other silverbacks to mate with the females bring about fights. In few and extraordinary cases do group leaders allow other silverbacks to mate with the females. All in all, mountain gorillas are generally gentle and peaceful animals that live harmoniously in their groups and become aggressive where need be.
Booking for gorilla safaris in the mentioned destinations will introduce you to these and more fascinating gorilla behavior.
