Volcanoes national park also known as Parc National Des Volcans 160km2 /62 sq miles, is located in high altitude northwest of Rwanda in the Virungas notable for outstanding dormant volcanic mountains; Karisimbi 4507m, Bisoke 3696m, Muhabura 4127m, Gahinga 3473m and Sabinyo 3669m. The park is an international wildlife expansion that touches and shares international borders with Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Uganda and Virunga National Park; DR Congo. Volcanoes National Park was formerly part of Albert National Park; the first on African continent in 1925 for protection and conservation of Mountain gorillas, and the habitat.
High amounts of altitudinal rainfall and volcanic soils rich in plant nutrients support growth of luxuriant vegetation dominated with bamboo, lobelia, meadow, thicket and montane forests. Swamp, lilies and wetland vegetation feature predominantly in the lower valleys. These are natural factors favorable for survival and existence of Mountain gorillas. Other permanent wildlife species residents but rare to spot in the park include Golden monkey, elephants, buffalo, bushbuck, bush pig, duiker, forest hogs, spotted hyenas, close 200 bird species, reptiles, insects and other wildlife species.
Mountain gorillas are highly social mammals that live in groups or families of related individuals. An adult male; silverback (a whitish band of body fur develops on the back of male gorillas due to old age) leads family. The silverback may not necessarily be the oldest or strongest in the group but rather have high degree of forming coalitions, mobilize the family, influential and accurate in decision-making. Each mountain gorilla family has a well-known home range; an area assumed secure with plenty of survival resources for entire family. The silverback ensures security and discipline of group, determines activity undertakings of the time and course or direction of movement. Rivalries for dominance and succession lead to internal cliques, coalitions, physical confrontations, revolts and family split up. The losing group forms a splinter group, own home range close to mother group and entices some members in old family into the new one. Mountain gorillas; diurnal and inactive in the night may live up to 35 years in the wilderness.
Mountain gorillas are omnivorous that spend much of day roaming the wilderness browsing on fresh vegetation, bamboo shoots, bananas, moss, ferns, passion fruits, berries, barks of trees, fruits, flowers, seeds, peas, nuts, root tubers. Mountain gorillas supplement their “vegetarian” diet with insects notably termites, harvest honey and feed on bee pupae, mushrooms, rodents, snails, capture fish in ponds and hunt small antelopes, other monkeys, pythons and birds for meat.
Mountain gorilla is restricted to tropical Africa natural forested habitat average 2000m-3600m above sea level, with huge amounts of rainfall, cool temperatures and average sunshine. The weather, soil texture and other factors must be appropriate to sustain continuous plant growth and easy regeneration all through year to support mountain gorillas’ huge appetite for food. These natural conditions only exist in the Virunga volcanic massif; Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda, Virunga National Park DR Congo and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Uganda. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda has similar natural conditions and hosts more than half of Mountain gorillas on the entire globe.
