Gorillas just like humans do sleep after the long day of foraging and movement from one to another. Unlike humans, gorillas sleep in new nests each day. The nests are set up by mothers or males in the gorilla family. Nests are constructed in the tree branches/on the ground although this may depend on the safety of the place.
Gorillas are unique creatures because they never sleep in the same nest two consecutive nights. They are capable of making new nests and they set them in a little far from where they spent a previous night. Gorillas do move from one point to another depending on availability of forage. During the dry season or drier months, gorillas find themselves in further distant places to look what to eat unlike during the wet/rainy season when there is plenty for them to eat. Rains support growth of plenty of plants which makes large portion of these apes’ food source.
Every gorilla sets up its own nest except infants that only can share the same nest with the mothers. Nests are constructed about 30 minutes prior to night fall or during midday. Gorillas consider strong tree branches with capacity to carry their weight.
The infant gorillas aren’t capable of setting up their own nests and they can share with mothers. Upon getting another baby, after about 4 years, the grown up infant can begin sleeping on its own. Before, the infant can be practicing how to set up nests. A female gorilla can give birth to one baby gorilla and on the rare occasion, females may give birth to twins.
At times, mountain gorillas do construct nests for night stay although this also happens on rare occasions. They can construct nests for midday naps and young ones to rest during the day.
How long can gorillas sleep? / Sleeping patterns.
Just like humans, gorillas spend the whole night sleeping. They can take about 12 hours sleeping. Nests are set up during the evening hours as the sunsets down.
Gorillas use different materials to build their nests including leaves, bushes, and branches. These apes exist in the tropical rain-forested areas and they don’t find it challenging to search for building materials. It takes them a process to search for a safer place to set up their nests and this is usually not a simple process since the circle repeats itself each day.
Most times, silverbacks sleep on the ground in order to protect others. Also, females spend a night in the nests because of their light weight. Naturally, females weigh less than the weight of male mountain gorillas.
Where do gorillas live?
Gorillas exist in various parts in Africa but the most visited ones are in East-Central Africa. The most trekked gorillas include mountain gorillas and Eastern lowland gorillas.
In particular, mountain gorillas exist in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park/Mgahinga Gorilla N/Park Uganda, Volcanoes National Park (VNP) Rwanda and Virunga National Park (VNP) Congo. Still in DRC, the Eastern Lowland gorillas are tracked in Kahuzi-Biega National Park.
