A Survival Guide to Gorilla Charges in Bwindi
A Survival Guide to Gorilla Charges in Bwindi will help you understand the dos and don’ts of gorilla trekking. Humans and mountain gorillas share 98% of their DNA, making the former an endangered species of forest primate. Mountain gorillas are an uncontrolled animal despite their close kinship with humans. Although most people believe mountain gorillas to be kind and calm creatures, this does not ensure a safe journey, particularly if you disregard guidelines for gorilla trekking and restrictions. People from all over the globe come to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park primarily to see gorillas in their natural habitat, and they always expect that their safari will be successful.
Gorillas may seem aggressive if you feel like a threat, especially to the dominant silverback, who protects the family. The silverback keeps the group safe and will take action if it feels threatened by humans. To scare off an attacker, a silverback will stand on its hind legs, pound its chest, hoot, and make loud calls. If the threat does not back down, it could cause harm to the gorilla family.
Things to do following your safety guide to gorilla charges in Bwindi
Whether you obey the trekking activity’s rules and regulations or not, there are a few things that can lead to a gorilla charge when trekking with mountain gorillas. In our opinion, there are several ways to protect yourself from a gorilla attack.
Walk away steadily
In Bwindi, you should carefully back off and not run if a mountain gorilla charges at you. This is because a mountain gorilla might pursue you in vengeance, you are not allowed to run away from the scene while in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. There is a good possibility that a mountain gorilla will attack you if it is chasing you. Simply move away from the mountain gorilla to give it plenty of space to unwind.
Squatting down
Armed ranger guides will encourage you to squat, remain silent, and be respectful when the mountain gorilla charges in Bwindi. A mountain gorilla will perceive your mild demeanor and assume you are not going to harm it if you crouch down. Furthermore, if you crouch on your knees, a mountain gorilla will sense you are not there to engage it and will back off, preventing an assault.
Behave like a gorilla
Act like a mountain gorilla and walk on four legs as it charges in Bwindi. You can break and pick leaves, but you should not look it in the eyes. You might also act as though you are chewing grass. It will just depart if it sees you consuming plants as it gets closer.
Gorilla Charge Prevention Tips
To prevent mountain gorillas in Bwindi from charging, you only need to adhere to the gorilla trekking guidelines provided by park wardens at the briefing facility. Park wardens meet with all participants before they travel into the jungle to search for mountain gorillas and explain the various rules and regulations that must be adhered to when gorilla trekking.
Avoid wearing bright colours like yellow, lemon green, or red when trekking. A mountain gorilla should never be touched. When you are near gorillas, talk very quietly, avoid looking a mountain gorilla in the eyes when taking photos, and use a camera without a torch. Keep your distance from mountain gorillas at least 7 meters away.
Why do gorillas charge
Careless movements by trekkers around mountain gorillas could create a situation where they are trying to hurt them. For this reason, mountain gorillas would charge to frighten trekkers away. Gorillas charge when you take photos of them using a torch and a camera. Follow Gorilla trekking Guidelines that you will either be told at the briefing centre or your local tour operator might suggest that you bring a camera without a flash.
If a silverback or a lone gorilla from another group tries to capture or enslave gorillas, the mountain gorillas will attack. To frighten it or stop it from grabbing group members, the mountain gorillas charge, which frequently results in fights. After a long time away, mountain gorillas might recharge when they see trekkers. Because they eventually lose their ability to adjust to human presence and come to perceive trekkers as enemies, a family of habituated mountain gorillas may charge. The gorillas may feel agitated and uneasy if you look them in the eyes.
During the sector offices’ briefing, guests are instructed to speak quietly around mountain gorillas because they are more likely to charge at the sound of disturbance. It is possible for mountain gorillas to attack you even if you follow the guidelines for gorilla trekking. Should you forget the teachings they taught you at the briefing centre, your armed ranger guides will know what to do.
Conclusion
Trekking with mountain gorillas is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that every traveller should not miss out on, if they want to see them in their natural habitat, and you should follow a Survival Guide to Gorilla Charges in Bwindi. In the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, mountain gorillas can be seen in Buhoma, Nkuringo, Ruhija, and Rushaga. Together, these trekking areas have the highest concentration of mountain gorillas in the world. Other captivating trekking gorilla destinations include Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, Mgahinga National Park in Uganda and Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
