Mountain Gorilla - Female Wih Baby Stock Photo

Mountain gorillas spend most of their time eating a variety of plants, insects, and worms, Youngsters tumble, climb, and run playing follow the leader Another group plays a rowdy game of king of the mountain Several adults watch the action, relaxing nearby The animals are peaceful, gentle, social, and mainly vegetarian creatures The occasional ferocious-looking, impressive displays are generally from a male gorilla to protect his family group from threat typical group is led by the biggest and strongest mature male gorilla often the guy doing any chest pounding or charging He's called a Silverback because the hair on a male's back turns from black to silvery gray as he matures This happens when he is between 11 and 13 years old A Silverback's group normally includes a sub-adult male or two and a few females and their young Mountain gorillas wander around a home range of up to 15 square miles (39 square kilometers)Mountain gorillas spend much of their time eating Their food includes a variety of plants, along with a few insects and worms At night the animals make a nest to sleep in Many lightweight gorillas nest in trees, making beds of bent branches The heavier individuals may nest in grasses on the ground Babies snuggle with their mothers for the night