Uganda has over 600 mountain gorillas which are located within Bwindi Impenetrable National park and Mgahinga national park. 459 of these gorillas are found within Bwindi impenetrable national park and are categorized within 50 gorilla groups or families. Some of these mountain gorilla groups in Uganda are habituated while the most are not. Habituation involves making the gorillas less fearful of human presence by exposing them to human stimulus over a period of time. Gorilla habituation is the process by which gorillas are keenly trained to get used to human presence and sight. It involves different groups of people like game rangers, tour guides, zoologists, wild life biologists, conservationists and trackers who take most of their time trying to complete the habituation cycle. They are needed because gorillas are naturally afraid of humans and can charge if people get close to them. Therefore, trainers in the first days of habituation tend to keep a big distance away. As time goes, they keep getting closer until they confirm that the gorillas are now open for trekking.
The following are the habituated mountain gorilla groups in Uganda. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is sub-divided into 4 gorilla trekking sectors. These include: Buhoma, Nkuringo, Rushaga and Ruhija.
Buhoma has 3 habituated gorilla groups.
- Mubare
- Rushegura
- Habinyanja
- Katwe
Ruhija has 4 habituated gorilla groups
- Kyaguliro
- Mukiza
- Bitukura
- Oruzogo
Rushaga has 8 habituated gorilla groups
- Shongi
- Bweza
- Mishaya (Currently headed by a silverback called Tifayo.)
- Kutu
- Kahungye
- Busingye
- Mucunguzi
- Bikingi
Nkuringo has 2 habituated gorilla groups
- Nkuringo
- Bushaho
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
- Nyakagezi. Mgahinga is a different national park from Bwindi, even though they are close to each other.
Note: Christmas group of Nkuringo disintegrated and remained with only 3 individuals which cannot be tracked.
The above are the mountain gorilla groups in Uganda that are currently available for a gorilla trekking experience.
Frequently asked questions about mountain gorilla groups.
What is a group of gorillas called?
For anyone in need of trekking the gorillas, it is common to ask the question, “what do you call a group of gorillas?” Whereas we would call a group of chimpanzees a community, a group of gorillas is called a troop. Some use the word band as the group of gorillas name in referring to the gorilla families.
What is a group of mountain gorillas called?
Mountain gorillas are a section of gorillas. The difference is that they live in mountains while others live in the low lands. A group of mountain gorillas is called a troop, just like a group of any other kind of gorillas.
How many gorillas are in a group?
Gorillas go in groups as they make movements. Some of these groups are composed of a few members while some can have to as many as 40-50. Examples of large gorilla families in Bwindi include Nshongi, which has upto 25 members. The gorilla family is usually led by the silver back who is a dominant male.
How many male gorillas are in a group?
The most adult dominant males in the group are called the silver backs who can range from 1 to 4. There are however other male gorillas who are called the black backs and these also vary in size.