Updated
A mountain gorilla group usually has one or more silverbacks, several adult females, and their young, typically 5 to 30 animals. Groups form and change as young adults leave home: females usually move to another group or join a lone male, and many young males leave to live alone before attracting females to start their own group. Some sons stay and later take over their father’s group.
How new groups form
A young male who leaves his birth group may wander alone for months or years as a solitary silverback. When he meets other groups, he displays to attract females, and if one or more transfer to him, a new group begins. Groups also form when a large group splits, often after a dominant silverback dies or when a second silverback leads away some females.
Life inside the group
The dominant silverback decides when the group moves and where it feeds, settles disputes and protects members from threats. Females form bonds mainly with the silverback rather than each other. Infants and juveniles play together and spend much time near the silverback. Groups with more than one silverback are common in mountain gorillas and can be more stable when the leader dies.
Seeing group life on a trek
Each habituated family you can visit has its own history of splits, transfers and takeovers, and guides often know it in detail. The gorilla permit costs US$800, or US$600 in April, May and November. See our guides to gorilla family life, the silverback’s role, Bwindi’s gorilla families and baby gorillas.
Frequently asked questions
Typically 5 to 30, though some groups are larger.
To avoid inbreeding and to join a group or male they prefer.
An adult male living alone, often before forming his own group.
Yes, multi-male groups are common in mountain gorillas.
