How Long Does It Take For a Gorilla to Grow Up

It takes so much to learn about Giant Apes of the African jungles and booking a gorilla safari is one of the easiest ways to have an insight into their exceptional behavior. One of the Frequently-Asked Questions among travelers is “how long does it take for a gorilla to grow up?” Unlike humans that dedicate so much time and effort to giving attention to and nurturing their newborns, mother gorillas don’t concern so much with their offspring aside from lifting/moving around with them, breastfeeding, grooming, and offering protection. Normally in the first few months, the infant is continuously in physical contact with his/her mother. Given the small size, the mother first offers support with one hand, and on the first day, the youngster clings to the mother’s fur without so much assistance for a considerable period of time.

gorillas trekking

Baby gorilla begins reducing physical contact with the mother from the fourth or fifth month when it initiates quadrupedal walking. Gorilla babies are breastfed for up to two years, but by 4-6 months, they start putting plant parts into their mouth and try chewing them. By the time a gorilla makes 8 months, it now frequently ingests solid food. Total independence begins at 3 years and during this time, the infant can make its own nest because the mother gorilla prepares or has now given birth to another baby. However, a strong bond is still maintained between the mother and older offspring.

Right from its first day of life, a baby gorilla is welcomed and considered part of the gorilla family. It gradually grows into the group under the jealous protection as well as control of the mother who sometimes doesn’t permit other gorillas to come closer. The moment she allows the other family members to get closer, they will get the chance to see, smell and even touch the newborn. By the time the baby gorilla begins moving away from the mother, other members get the opportunity of making contact with it. In most cases, she hold, carries, and grooms her baby while other younger gorillas will make an effort in playing with it.

Gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Female gorillas reach sexual maturity earlier and when it happens, they develop a hormone cycle that is not different from that of humans. While ovulation can start by 8 years, most of them experience it until 10 years old. Interestingly, gorillas in captivity have proven to reach sexual maturity at as early as 6 years. Incest tendencies are rare among gorillas and one of the ways it is made possible is the fact that female gorillas normally leave their natal families on reaching maturity to find new partners. It would interest you to know that female gorilla-like human have a particular choice of females. “Type” like we call it. Surprisingly, they move to new families many times until settling down with a particular silverback gorilla.

For the male gorillas, puberty is longer, in that the blackback (young male) becomes a silverback (fully grown-up male) marked by silver-gray backs as well as large canines as well as the development of a number of secondary sexual characteristics. They reach sexual maturity at 13-15 years, although the ones in captivity can reach sexual maturity at 11 years.

On reaching adulthood, male gorillas have two options-leaving the gorilla family to form another family or ousting the dominant male to become a leader. Those that choose to leave first stay as lone silverbacks until being joined or forcefully grabbing females from other families.

Best time of the year to see gorillas in the wild

Gorillas can be spotted throughout the year but most travelers prefer seeing them in the months of June to September and December to February because these are considered dry with limited precipitation, thus drier forest trails.