A silverback is an adult male mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei) that has a distinctive grey or white band on their back. In their natural environment they can only be found in 3 African countries comprising Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. They are part of the eastern gorilla subspecies that live in the Virunga volcanoes (Volcanoes National Park, Virunga National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park) and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Their habitat is primarily constituted of tropical Afromontane and bamboo forests situated in high elevations, ranging from 3,806 feet to 1,1811 feet above sea level.
The unique habitats of the silverback mountain gorillas offer them shelter and food sources including roots, leaves, fruits, insects such as ants and plenty more. This has sustained a worldwide population of around 1,063 individuals, including the iconic silverbacks.
Each silverback gorilla can eat over 19 kilograms of food in just a day. Their immense appetite is key to sustaining their massive sizes.
Silverbacks drink water occasionally since their diet consists of succulent foods to ensure they remain hydrated. This implies that they generally rely on the moisture from the leaves, roots, fruits and other vegetation they forage to meet their hydration requirements in the forests.
The silverback gorilla can thrive in their natural habitat for about 35 to 40 years. However, this time would be much more if they did not engage in risky behaviors such as protecting their families, habitat loss, poaching, diseases, climate change and human conflicts such as wars among others. In captivity, they can survive up to around 50 years. This is thanks to sustainable food supply and absence of external threats from other gorillas and human disruption.
The silverback gorilla is the charismatic alpha male and usually more intelligent. He demands respect and dominance as the patriarchal leader of his family. The silverback is strong and wise enough to guide and protect family members. He determines the movement of his group, while playing a key role in mediating conflict.
A silverback gorilla is generally gentle despite their massive size and strength. They also display strong familial bonds for instance in raising and nurturing baby gorillas. Silverbacks are generally shy and are rarely aggressive in their natural environment but prefer a peaceful existence of foraging for food and idling with their family. They can become more aggressive while defending their family. Being immensely family-oriented and often having an intimate interaction with all family members enhances the sense of security and cooperation among each family member. This subsequently leads to higher survival chances in the wild.
Each silverback gorilla, like all mountain gorillas has a unique nose, thanks to different wrinkles above each nostril. This is key for identification and study purposes.
Silverbacks being the largest apes on the planet have weights ranging from 298 pounds to 500 pounds. They can stand up to 5 feet to 6.5 feet when fully erect. On average their, arms measure up to 7.5 feet to 8.9 feet.
A silverback gorilla beats his chest to communicate various issues including displays of authority and aggression, and also to express joy and liveliness. They can beat their chest with cupped hands to make sounds that carry over hundreds of meters away to be noticed by rival males and potential threats. This is also significant in attracting females as potential mates and
ance in their group. However, not all silverbacks beat their chests the same way. Also, some silverbacks beat more frequently and for relatively longer durations than other silverbacks.
Silverbacks know how to use tools to perform a variety of tasks, for example testing water depth with a stick before crossing a stream; making an improvised ladder to ensure that younglings reach for fruits in trees; and using sticks as eating tools to avoid bites from ants while feeding on them.
Silverbacks can become even up to over 10 times as strong as an average adult human. This is vital to defend their troop while ensuring easier navigation in rugged terrain.
Because of their immense sizes and strength, silverbacks have a few threats from fellow mammals. Leopards are their main threat in the wild since they focus on the younger and weaker mountain gorillas. However, it should be noted that they are usually vigilant, watching to deter any predator with their sheer presence and power.
Mountain gorillas and particularly silverbacks have remarkably powerful bites thus positioning them as daunting defenders of their troops. With an approximate force of 1,300 pounds per square inch, a silverback’s bite is much stronger than a lion’s. This is significant in fending off predators while maintaining dominance in their family.
Silverbacks are agile and can run up to 11 meters per second. Such a remarkable speed makes them capable of escaping an enemy or predator.
Silverback gorillas, like all mountain gorillas are critically endangered and have a huge possibility of facing extinction if conservation measures are not sustained. They are still grappling with habitat loss, diseases such as Ebola and illegal hunting for their heads, feet and limbs. Therefore, there is still need to expand their habitat, as well as promoting more conservation awareness programs to ensure their survival for future generations.
