Eastern Lowland Gorillas.
One of the Eastern gorilla’s most vulnerable subspecies is the Eastern lowland gorilla. Kahuzi Biega National Park and other eastern lowland gorilla sites in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are home to endemic eastern lowland gorillas, who are found in the country’s hilly woods. In tropical climates, eastern lowland gorillas live in both thick montane forests and lowland rainforests.
The number of eastern lowland gorillas decreased from 17,000 in 1995 to only 3,800 in 2016, according to a 2016 research by Fauna and Fauna International. As a result, the eastern lowland gorillas are now considered extremely endangered and need significant conservation work before they may be seen by future generations.
Of the four gorilla species, the Eastern lowland gorilla is one of the biggest. The stocky physique of eastern lowland gorillas are accompanied by huge hands, massive heads, and lengthy arms with thumbs that protrude much more than the other fingers. Male eastern lowland gorillas often reach a height of 1.69 meters and weigh up to 163 kg, whereas females may only reach a height of 1.8 meters and weigh up to 81 kg.
Like their mountain counterparts, eastern lowland gorillas are jet black in color, but their head and body hair are far shorter. When older male eastern lowland gorillas attain sexual maturity, often around age 12, they cover their backs with a covering of silver hair. In contrast, the fur of female eastern lowland gorillas and immature males is darker and much shorter than that of mountain gorillas. Black Blacks are male eastern lowland gorillas that are not quite mature.
When female eastern lowland gorillas reach adulthood, often at age 8 or older, they begin giving birth. The gestation time for female eastern lowland gorillas is around 8.5 months, and the moms are the ones that provide primary care for the young. Until they are able to be independent, infants remain around their moms for up to five years.
Similar to other gorilla species, eastern lowland gorillas live in troops. With one leader of the group, these gorilla families may consist of five to thirty gorillas. Since they actually fight to determine who is the head of the family, the dominant silverback typically holds the position of head of the gorilla group. This can be with other silverbacks or even with other black backs who believe they are strong enough to lead the family.
Silverbacks are in charge of all matters pertaining to the gorilla group; they choose where they will feed, where they will build their nests, and all other matters. Even at the cost of their lives, silverbacks defend their families from injury and assaults.
Eastern lowland gorillas may consume up to 18 kilograms of plants in a single day, exactly as other gorilla species. Eastern lowland gorillas typically eat leaves, branches, and roots, with occasional tiny portions of termites and ants.
Eastern Lowlands Gorilla Threats
Eastern lowland gorillas are threatened by poaching, particularly for wild meat, civil unrest in the Congo, where gorillas are killed in crossfire, habitat loss or destruction, where humans encroach on the forests the gorillas live in for farming and habitation, as well as logging and mining. One of the several dangers facing the eastern lowland gorillas is disease.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is home to endemic eastern lowland gorillas. The Tayna Gorilla Reserve, Usala Forest, Itombwe Massif, Kahuzi Biega National Park, and Maiko National Park are all home to eastern lowland gorillas in the Congo.
With a lowland gorilla trekking safari, visitors may get up close and personal with the eastern lowland gorillas in Kahuzi Biega National Park, Congo. In eastern lowland gorilla trekking, visitors hike through Kahuzi Biega National Park’s forest cover in an attempt to see the primates.
Because the eastern lowland gorillas are found close to the forest slopes, gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park is less stressful than hiking in Virunga National Park to see the mountain gorillas.
In Kahuzi Biega National Park, escort lowland gorilla hiking may go anything from 30 minutes to two hours or more, with visitors spending only one hour with the primates. At only $400 per person per trip, gorilla trekking permits that provide access to see the eastern lowland gorillas may be obtained from Kahuzi Biega National Park’s park headquarters.
The greatest time to visit Kahuzi Biega National Park for eastern lowland gorilla trekking safaris is during the dry season, however you may see eastern lowland gorillas there at any time of year. For incredible experiences with the critically endangered eastern lowland gorillas of the Congo, go there at any time of year.
Travelers may only really see two gorilla species in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: the mountain gorillas in Virunga National Park and the eastern lowland gorillas in Kahuzi Biega National Park. Spend some time contacting a skilled and informed tour operator to help you organize a fantastic Congo gorilla safari that will allow you to see the eastern lowland gorillas and more.
