| Would you kindly tell me who the largest primates | | | | forms a bond between the two and it is not |
| on earth are? If your answer was 'Gorillas', then | | | | uncommon for a silverback to adopt an infant if |
| you are absolutely right! These 'people' are | | | | its mother dies. This has always been used as a |
| wonderful creatures with a fully grown male gorilla | | | | distinguishing trait for gorillas from other primates |
| weighing as much as 200 kilograms. Females are | | | | where child rearing is normally taken as a duty for |
| however half this weight. Mountain gorillas are | | | | the females. |
| always the largest of all the three species, | | | | From the age of about three years, the young |
| although the largest gorilla ever recorded was an | | | | gorillas become quite independent and go an extra |
| Eastern lowland male. | | | | mile to start building their own nests! However it is |
| The male gorillas tend to take a little lengthier | | | | so unfortunate that only 70% of the gorillas leave |
| time to mature, and their full maturity age falls | | | | for more than six years. Don't you think then, |
| between ten to fifteen years. Females, usually | | | | that gorillas were just inches away from being |
| smaller in size, takes eight to nine years to be | | | | normal human beings? Due to this feeling and the |
| fully mature. At this age, it is possible for a female | | | | fact that they have to be given their respect, the |
| to conceive within the third and fourth day of | | | | following is a few tips on how we should behave |
| every month. After which she spends most of | | | | while in their precincts: |
| her life doing two things; - either being pregnant | | | | During your gorilla trekking: |
| or nursing. Their gestation period is normally eight | | | | Try to keep a distance of not less than five |
| and a half months. Just like the infants of a | | | | meters away from the gorillas. |
| human being, gorilla's newborn infants are highly | | | | Avoid loud noises or sudden movements that can |
| dependent on the adults and a young infant will | | | | threaten them. |
| rarely leave its mother's arms during the first six | | | | Incase you want to sneeze or cough, try to turn |
| months of its life on earth. Initially, the infant clings | | | | away from them. |
| to the front of its mother but the trend is | | | | Don't use a flash when taking their photographs. |
| gradually changed and starts spending most of | | | | Don't eat or smoke next to the gorillas. |
| the time at her back. | | | | No one with a communicable disease is allowed to |
| The first year elapses without the infant doing so | | | | visit the gorillas. |
| much in its life, but come the second year, a | | | | Stay together with your group while visiting the |
| young gorilla gradually begins to socialize and | | | | gorillas. Avoid surrounding or littering. |
| interact with other members of the group. This is | | | | Take a maximum of one hour hour per gorilla |
| also the time that it starts feeling big and | | | | visit. |
| responsible enough to feed itself. The infant | | | | Children under 15 years of age are not allowed to |
| gorillas always tend to get closer to the silverback | | | | visit the gorillas. |
| gorillas, at times spending time together. This | | | | Enjoy your trek. |