Mountain gorillas mating
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Mountain gorillas mating
Mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) mating. The mature male leading the troop is known as a silverback due to the colour of the fur on its back. Mountain gorillas are found in cloud forests high on the slopes of the Virunga volcanoes between Rwanda, Uganda and Zaire. High elevation and rainfall makes this habitat wet and cold. The adults eat many kilograms of roots, leaves and stems daily, and can exceed 2 metres in height. Mountain gorillas reproduce slowly and are vulnerable to habitat destruction, poaching and war, making them highly endangered. Photographed in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
Science Photo Library features Science and Medical images including photos and illustrations
Media ID 9216973
© DR P. MARAZZI/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
Africa African Animal Behaviour Breeding Cloud Forest Endangered Family Forest Gorilla Gorilla Beringei Beringei Great Ape High Altitude High Elevation Large Leader Mammal Mate Mates Mating Montane Mountain Mountain Gorilla Powerful Primate Reproduction Reproductive Rwanda Rwandan Sexual Intercourse Silverback Social Group Tropics Vegetation Volcanoes National Park Dominant Male Parc National Des Volcans Troop Virunga Volcanoes
EDITORS COMMENTS
This print captures a rare and intimate moment in the lives of mountain gorillas. The image showcases two majestic creatures, a male and female, engaged in the act of mating. The mature male leading the troop, known as a silverback due to his distinctive silver-colored fur on his back, guides this family unit through their lush forest habitat high on the slopes of the Virunga volcanoes. Mountain gorillas are magnificent beings that inhabit cloud forests characterized by high elevation and heavy rainfall. Towering at over 2 meters in height, these powerful animals consume kilograms of roots, leaves, and stems daily to sustain themselves. However, despite their impressive stature and strength, they face numerous threats such as habitat destruction caused by human activities, poaching for illegal trade purposes, and even war. As slow reproducers vulnerable to external pressures, mountain gorillas find themselves teetering on the brink of extinction. This photograph serves as a reminder of their endangered status while showcasing their biological beauty within an African landscape. Captured in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda – home to one-third of the world's remaining mountain gorilla population – it highlights both the fragility and resilience of these incredible creatures. Through this stunning visual narrative provided by Science Photo Library's lens into nature's wonders; we gain insight into not only their reproductive behavior but also into our responsibility towards protecting them from further harm. Let us cherish this glimpse into their lives while acknowledging our duty to safeguard these great apes' future survival amidst mounting challenges posed by human encroachment upon their fragile habitats.
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