You may be there asking what gorillas look like or what are they. Where to find them and other many questions? This is the most interesting reason why you have to concentrate on this write-up, it will solve all you need to know about gorillas. First and foremost, gorillas are huge-built great apes with big heads, and short necks and are believed to have developed brains but no tails. They have broad chests, big hands that look like those of humans and small eyes.

In addition to the above, gorillas are herbivorous and mainly feed on bamboo shoots, stems, and fruits and most of the time change their diet by feeding on termites as well as ants. According to research, gorillas share 96% of DNA with humans and they are the next closest relative to humans after chimpanzees which share 98%. They live in tropical rainforests of equatorial Africa and live in groups or families each group being led by one dominant male called a silverback.

However, a silverback is distinguished from others by its fur at the back which is developed when it matures. The fur turns into grey – silver color. Most times gorillas fight but mainly the silverbacks or mature males are the ones that involve themselves in the fight and not females for different reasons.

But before the fight happens, these apes show different signs and impressions like beating their chests while making different sounds and it’s advisable that when you’re around them and such a situation happens, crouch down, stay calm, and don’t move.

Gorillas fight for protection.

Silverback gorillas fight mainly to protect their families from enemies. This can happen in case two gorilla groups meet, the leaders or dominant males from each group will engage in the fight to show their strength. The fight may involve the use of teeth to harm each other which normally leads to severe bleeding and sometimes death. This is mainly done by a silverback to protect his group from enemies approaching it or even conquering it completely.

Gorillas fight for dominance.

In case a gorilla group consists of more than one silverback and they both become mature, they tend to fight since it’s only one silverback that is supposed to be dominant and make decisions on behalf of other group members. Therefore, the one which is not a silverback in a given group has to open a fight with the leader for dominance or separate with some members from the former group to form his own.

Gorillas fight for females and reproduction.

These apes can also fight for females mostly during copulation since it’s only the silverback that mates with females at any time and for other males in the group to do so there must be a fight and the winner will then gain mating rights in the group.

In other words, gorillas can fight due to different reasons not only the above mentioned; they can also fight for food during scarcity and many other reasons. Surprisingly, gorilla fights are very rare since they love to live in peace with their fellows though they charge and become aggressive from time to time.

During the fight, gorillas may use almost all their body parts to win the battle; they can use their hands, legs, and teeth. They have canine teeth which are very sharp and can easily tear the flesh of another gorilla or other animals involved in the fight.

More about gorilla trekking?

Gorilla trekking safaris take place in different East Africa – namely; Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Here one can spot the great mountain gorillas as well as the eastern lowland gorillas in Kahuzi-Biega National Park found in the Democratic Republic of Congo. You can trek them only when you have purchased a gorilla trekking permit and only eight people are required to trek a group of gorillas per day.

Book a gorilla safari only through a local, registered, and licensed gorilla trekking company in any of the above-mentioned countries. Therefore, choose where you want to do your gorilla trekking safari from, select any country of choice and better to book in advance as gorilla permits tend to get fully booked especially during the peak season – between June and October.