THE EASTERN LOWLAND GORILLAS IN D.R. CONGO

Kahuzi Biega National park in the Democratic Republic of Congo is the home to the largest gorilla species known as the eastern lowland gorillas also sometimes referred to as the Grauer’s gorillas. Eastern lowland gorilla is one of the two sub-species of the lowland gorillas in most cases sighted in Africa while the mountain gorilla is the rarest species of gorillas. The eastern lowland gorilla is more common than the mountain gorillas. It is different from other species by the stocky body, large hands and short muzzle just like other herbivorous.

The eastern lowland gorillas being socialists live in groups led and protected by a male gorilla called the alpha which mates with the females in its group to produce the babies and the babies stay with the mother until 3years old before becoming independent. Due to its huge size the eastern lowland gorillas have very few predators but illegal poaching has continuously reduced their numbers drastically with estimated population of 5000 eastern lowland gorillas compared to only 880 mountain gorillas in the wild.

This species of gorilla is the most loved primate seen by the crazy number of visitors who visit the African continent just to experience the eastern lowland gorillas only found in Democratic Republic of Congo in the famous Kahuzi Biega national park in the eastern part of the country in the North Kivu province. The eastern lowland gorilla is an amazing ape that belongs to species of gorillas, chimpanzees, orang-utans, and human beings. This eastern lowland gorilla possesses some unique characters that make the jungle a suitable habitat for it to live in, including the handy thumbs used to peel fruits, and hairy body for extreme temperatures, etc.

In Democratic Republic of Congo trekking the eastern lowland gorillas in Kahuzi Biega National park is so wonderful and unique because visitors can undertake a 3 day lowland gorilla tour, exploring the untouchable and virgin features of this magnificent gorilla destination.

Some of the fun facts about the Eastern lowland gorillas in D.R. Congo are; they are large in terms of size compared to all other gorilla subspecies, they are absolutely herbivorous that eat a  wide range of plants, fruits, seeds, leaves, stems and barks, ants, termites and insects. Males weigh up to 250kg and averagely 2m high when standing.

Visitors are allowed an hour to watch the gorillas feed and play with the young ones and trekkers have the opportunity to see how they  make nest every night and the young ones share their mothers’ nest until 3years old before they become independent.

Trekking of the eastern lowland gorillas in the Democratic republic of Congo came to stand following the conflict by guerilla rebels, but with help of the WWF and other organizations the activities of gorilla trekking has resumed and the animals and visitors are protected by the game rangers. Don’t miss the chance to visit the eastern lowland gorillas in D.R. Congo in Kahuzi Biega and Virunga national parks.