Mountain gorillas are herbivores. Mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei). Mountain gorillas consume parts of at least 142 plant species and only 3 types of fruit.

Because they live in the high-altitude areas of the mountain, there is hardly any fruit available due to the high altitude. About 86% of their diet is leaves, shoots, and stems, 7% is roots, 3% is flowers, 2% is fruit, and 2% ants, snails, and grubs. On your gorilla trekking safari Uganda, you will be able to interact and see the mountain gorillas feeding.

Food Consumption

An adult male gorilla on average consumes more than 18 kg (40 lbs.) of vegetation per day. Gorillas rarely drink water while in the wild because they consume succulent vegetation that comprises of almost half water as well as morning dew.

Methods of Collecting Food

Gorillas are very selective foragers. They usually only eat parts of a certain vegetation type. For example, they may eat only the leaves, pith, stalk, or roots of a particular plant. They use their lips and hands to manipulate the vegetation for the particular portion they want to consume.

Mountain gorillas use their strength to break apart of the vegetation. An adult male for example can shred apart a whole banana tree to get to the interior tender pith which they feed on. Gorillas do not over exploit an area for food. They feed on the vegetation of the area just for a day. This allows quick replenishment to occur. That is why during Uganda gorilla safaris, gorilla families are found in different places.

What do gorillas feed on?

Mountain gorillas often time feed on Greenery. There are about 150 various plants, whose shoots, leaves as well as stems are eaten by the gorillas.

Gorillas prefer eating the shoots during the rainy season because the bamboos are tender and green. The bamboo shoots contain 84% of water with an extra of trocatea, flowers, stems, roots, soft bamboo leaves, tsile’s leaves; urela cameronesis leaves as well as the dry season black berries that act as a delicacy for the mountain gorillas. During Uganda gorilla trekking safaris, tourists are able to see ho the gorillas feed.

What Are The Gorillas Feeding Habits?

gorillas feeding habits depend on their current state. Usually, the gorillas have three intervals of sleep right after each feeding. If they are in an area with plenty of food, they will feed and rest for longer moments.
There is more movement of gorillas if there is scarcity of food and during this time, it may be hard to easily spot the gorillas on a Uganda gorilla safari. During the rainy season, the mountain gorillas are dormant with less activity to do. The gorillas move from one place to another looking for food. Their movement is because sometimes plants and trees change with the weather.