Why mountain gorillas can charge during gorilla trekking

Have you ever considered why mountain gorillas can charge during gorilla trekking? These are the reasons why and how one should prevent such events.

Among the most sought-after outdoor activities on the African continent and the whole planet is gorilla trekking. Many visitors to Africa come mostly to see and get a closer contact with these amazing apes in their natural surroundings.

Many individuals are concerned about safety and actions when seeing mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park or Bwindi Impenetrable National Park before starting a gorilla safari in either Uganda or Rwanda. They have to discover answers to the following before reserving their gorilla safaris.

Why are mountain gorillas charging?

For what grounds would a gorilla charge human beings?

If a silverback gorilla charges at you, what should you do?

Being authorities in delivering accurate information to all those eager for gorilla trekking, we will address the above questions in this article, but first, some background knowledge about gorillas will help you to understand why they might choose to charge at you.

Mountain gorillas are regarded as the calmest of the many primates on Earth, whether in a zoo or in the untamed forests of Africa. Living and arranged in families or groups under the direction of the oldest and strongest male, known as the dominant silverback, mountain gorillas. Sometimes conflicts arise among members of a particular gorilla family, but these are promptly settled and peace returns.

The leader of the group, the dominant silverback, watches and resolves such conflicts constantly. Should the leader lose power, the dominant silverback will be respected by all group members, including females, young blackbacks hoping to inherit the family.

Like other wild creatures in several top African National parks, mountain gorillas may get hostile when confronted with the presence of visitors. They only act, however, when they feel threatened by outsiders or when another powerful silverback mountain gorilla from another family attempts to attack in order to capture some females and other members from the group, thus forming their own family.

Mountain gorillas will immediately warn them by making loud sounds and ripping branches and foliage if they feel that someone is attempting to disorganize or harm them. To demonstrate dominance and force it carries, the lead silverback would even rise on its two hind legs and bang its chest so fiercely. This will show that the family is prepared to guard against any invader from all sides.

One main reason why gorilla tourism is feasible in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo is also the most important reason after the desired activity: wild mountain gorillas may be educated to get habituated to the presence of humans.

Experts and researchers maintain tracking and taming an identified wild gorilla family until it gets comfortable with the presence of humans in their midst, throughout the two to three years that mountain gorillas are habituated for.

They have to constantly follow them till they develop their confidence and trust, most notably that of the dominating silverback, the group boss. It is simple for the other members to follow if the main silverback approves of them. Before the family is entirely open for gorilla trekking, a few months of fake exercise are then carried out.

It should not be in Volcanoes National Park or Bwindi Impenetrable National Park; not all mountain gorillas live there; some are still wild and will either flee or choose to attack an invader. Even people who live sometimes and once in a while may charge at you based on certain situations.

Why do mountain gorillas charge on a gorilla hike?

There are many reasons why habituated mountain gorillas attack either during or before gorilla trekking. One significant observation is that 98% of gorilla charges are meant or manufactured to test the confidence of the humans visiting or seeing them. In certain gorilla families, a given silverback or blackback who is second in command usually maintains looking out for intruders at a distance; if he sees some individuals approaching the rest of the family, he may charge to see whether you would be afraid or flee away.

Not running away indicates that you are, in fact, nice and will guide you to where the other members will be. In some groups, the dominant silverback will charge because he is in responsibility of alerting and defending other group members. He will be joined by other silverbacks and blackbacks in the group to show a strong opposition against invaders, including poachers, when the danger is so severe.

Before leaving for gorilla trekking in either Bwindi, Mgahinga, or Volcanoes National Park, visitors are briefed by rangers and wardens and reminded of the possible behaviours of mountain gorillas as well as rules and regulations to follow when approaching and then with gorillas.

Your ranger guide will make sure you know what to anticipate upon running into these gorillas. Naturally, before letting anybody get near the family, the rangers and trackers will take time to see their actual mood. If they believe the primates are uncomfortable and act in a hostile manner—that is, if they constantly and persistently beat their chest and use vocalizations.

The minimum age for gorilla trekking in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo is 15 to discourage juveniles or adolescents who are not likely to follow briefing requirements as well as laws and regulations. Such actions may frighten visitors.

Motives for Gorilla wrath to attack you

Mountain gorillas do not typically charge people, as was already said; when this does occur, it is on a rare basis for the following reasons.

• Not often visited after the gorilla habituation phase is over
• When a wild and single silverback targets a habituated gorilla troop
• Visitors moving and acting unexpectedly while around mountain gorillas.
• Dressed in bright colors, such as yellow for outfits
• Approaching too closely to one of the family members.
• Keeping eye contact with a certain group of mountain gorillas. This makes him or her uneasy.
• spending much time with a bunch of gorillas above the advised one hour.
• Seeing a family of mountain gorillas in numbers
• Seeing a wild and uninhabited mountain gorilla family is not suited for humans.
• When you make a lot of noise around mountain gorillas
• When you see mountain gorillas in counts exceeding eight persons
• Surrounding or engulfing a certain group of mountain gorillas without your awareness sends a negative message to them and could cause them to attack you.
• Taking pictures of these gorillas with your camera flash on
• pointing a hand exactly in the sight of a mountain gorilla
• When the relevant family had a horrible day
• When you come to a single gorilla banished from a group and isolated
• Getting too near a mother gorilla nursing or carrying young.

Let us now go into great length on every one of the following problems: –

When not visited regularly after the completion of gorilla habituation:

It should be emphasized that completely acclimated mountain gorillas have to be seen often; otherwise, they would revert to their wild nature. Daily visits of these guarantees that gorillas stay at ease among humans. Rangers and park personnel often visit habituated mountain gorillas even during quiet seasons when visitor count is sparse.

There was concern that if these gorillas kept living without tourist visits when Covid 19 lockdown struck Africa, they might revert into wild state. Thanks go to Park officials in Uganda, Rwanda, and DRC who could conduct daily visits to every one of the habituated mountain gorilla families in their respective national parks.

When a wild and single silverback challenges a troop of habituated gorillas:

Once a wild, unaccustomed silverback replaces the one that is accustomed, a particular gorilla family may become rather hostile to people. It will naturally be aggressive by charging at individuals in order not to let them meet or visit the rest of the members,s as it is now the leader of the group and required to defend the other members. The family will be blocked off for tourists till the new silverback becomes accustomed to being around people, when such occurs.

Visitors move and act unexpectedly when around mountain gorillas.

Those who have hiked mountain gorillas in Uganda or Rwanda will tell you that habituated mountain gorillas will behave as if they are going about their business when, in fact, they are closely examining a movement you bring about.

They thus cautioned visitors about the motions that may inspire these gorillas to attack them. For instance, mosquitoes bite if one or so visitors infiltrate your clothing or bite you, which would cause you to jump up and down when mountain gorillas are about. Gorillas always have a low profile, seem submissive, avoid continuous eye contact, and, with such gorillas, will also return the favor.

Wearing garments with vibrant hues like yellow

Being wild creatures, mountain gorillas are used to naturally occurring hues, usually in green, brown, or black. This is thus because their surroundings—that of soil, trees, are dark and possibly dreary. Steer clear of vivid colors while working with mountain gorillas, as they could affect their attitude and cause them to charge or attack you. Therefore, we advise dull-colored clothing to be worn in line with the kind of environment these gorillas live in.

Getting too close to a family member.

It should be emphasized that the gorilla family you will be seeing is still wild creatures, even if their level of habitation has completely changed. Should you approach any member of the family so closely, one may see it as an assault on all of them and be forced to attack or charge at you.

Please retain a 7-meter distance as indicated while in the company of mountain gorillas; should gorillas approach you, please withdraw to the prescribed distance to preserve peace when with mountain gorillas in either Uganda, Rwanda, or the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Keeping eye contact with a particular group of mountain gorillas.

It is thought in the world we live in that one must keep confident eye contact if one wants to communicate very well. Mountain gorillas of Africa do not share this. Referred to as shy primates, mountain gorillas stare straight into the eyes of any group member, most particularly the dominant silverback, who annoys them and might lead to charging or attacking you in due course.

Always, and always at all times, keep your eyes away from those of these amazing apes directly. Should your direct, steady eye contact be unintentional, kindly correct and turn away as soon as you find out. This will save you from any mountain gorilla assault or charge.

Spending much time around a troop of gorillas.

Every National Park in Africa containing mountain gorillas permits only one hour with them. Spending one hour with mountain gorillas serves to let these animals go about their daily business free from significant disturbance.

Among them are nursing, feeding, and building nests. Visiting a specific mountain gorilla, overstaying for a long period, or numerous times a day may cause them discomfort, which may cause charging at you.

Seeing a family of mountain gorillas in great numbers

Eight is the largest number of visitors or tourists permitted to see a given mountain gorilla group in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, or Rwanda. Although this figure is acceptable, if it is more than 10 or more, these mountain gorillas might decide to charge at you or withdraw as they are not accustomed to so many humans around them.

When you create a lot of noise in front of the mountain gorillas

Mountain gorillas are accustomed to silence and natural surroundings free of odd sounds. Approach or with mountain gorillas in Volcanoes, Bwindi, Mgahinga, or Virunga National Park, try to minimize your loudness and avoid yelling or attempting to copy the sound and vocalization from these giant primates. Let your ranger guide communicate with the gorillas and handle the talking.

Approaching a wild and non-habituated mountain gorilla family. | Why mountain gorillas can charge during trekking

Trekking into the jungles of these tropical rainforests, home to mountain gorillas, you may unintentionally come upon a wild and unhabituated bunch of them. Remember, such a group is not accustomed to the presence of human people; so, your contact may be taken as their enemy.

As always, you can anticipate anything from them, including charging and an attempt at assault. Under such conditions, you should rely on your ranger guide to provide direction and rules to follow.

Surrounding or engulfing a certain group of mountain gorillas without your awareness.

It is advised to provide sufficient room for mountain gorillas while visiting them. Tourists are advised to maintain a distance of 7 meters away from mountain gorillas and to confine them in one area rather than encircling them.

Should you attempt to block their access and actions by encircling them, they can flee or, in the worst case, charge and try fighting you. Always follow guidelines from your ranger guide as well as policies and laws.

Taking pictures of these gorillas while running your camera flash

You only bring memories, pictures, and movies when you come for gorilla trekking in Uganda, Rwanda, or even the Democratic Republic of Congo. Your ranger guide will suggest how best to capture your pictures without using spotlights during the briefing. This is so because flash could pique interest, which results in the charging of these mountain gorillas on your journey.

Lighting a lamp exactly in the eyes of a mountain gorilla | Why mountain gorillas can charge during trekking

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi, Volcanoes, or Virunga National Park mostly serves to provide a sense and experience of what it is like to be among mountain gorillas in their natural environment. The thick woodland in Bwindi or any other park causes occasional darkness that might inspire you to use your light to increase visibility.

If you do so, kindly avoid burning right in the sight of any particular mountain gorilla, most notably juvenile gorillas, and the silverbacks. Direct torching in the listed people’s eyes might cause charging toward you and the rest of the group in protest.

When the family in issue has had a horrible day. | Why mountain gorillas can charge during trekking

Mountains gorillas, like people, have both happy and terrible days in their existence. The moment arrives when these apes lose their sanity for so many different reasons—including conflicts among themselves, wild gorillas assaulting them, or if some members are sick or injured. Such times might call for you to maintain a distance from such gorillas; should you reject, the outcome could not be favorable.

a Blackback or Silverback gorilla that has been driven from the pack.

Sometimes someone has been kicked out of the family for one reason only, another. Other than silverbacks, who fight most of the time, the next in line is trying to inherit family leadership. Should such occur, and the dominant silverback be overthrown and driven from the family? It becomes lonely and nasty to everyone at once. Meeting such someone would surely set off a charge.

Approach a breastfeeding mother or one with children too closely: | Why mountain gorillas can charge during trekking

Female mountain gorillas are very protective of their young ones, just like any mother in mankind. They believe it is their responsibility to guard their children at any hour of the day. It is suggested to avoid nursing moms at all times. Consult your ranger guide often for suggestions.

Should a gorilla rush at you, what should you do?

Mountain gorillas seldom charge, as was already said; when they charge, 99% of their charges are phony. Should they charge you, nonetheless, kindly follow these guidelines: –

Calm down and lie back. | Why mountain gorillas can charge during trekking

Please appear as if nothing has occurred when a gorilla rushes at you; avoid panicking; instead, strive to lower yourself, as mountain gorillas like their sense of superiority. Mountain gorillas are quicker than human beings, so never attempt to flee all at once.

If you stay calm and under control, mountain gorillas cannot bond to you. Remember, you are doing all this under the protection of an armed ranger guide who not only knows mountain gorilla behavior but also is ready to defend you should things get out of control—not always the case.

Grooming mountain gorillas when they get into contact with you will help you prevent their charging at you. If they do so, kindly scratch or stroke their back to show them you are a friend rather than an opponent. If it is time to move, politely retreat gradually without fear and steer clear of quick motions that can be misconstrued by gorillas as hostility.

Wait for your ranger guide to assist you. | Why mountain gorillas can charge during trekking

Remember that among you are rangers and guides who will provide all the direction required on your journey, even in anything you do or consider when mountain gorillas attack. Having said that, we have never had an incident when a mountain gorilla assaulted any customer in Uganda or Rwanda.

This is so because competent and well-trained ranger guides in Bwindi, Mgahinga, Volcanoes, and Virunga National Parks in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo correspondingly thoroughly plan, lead, and oversee the complete experience.