Animals in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

Animals in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

Bwindi National Park is home to the famous mountain gorillas. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is a World Heritage Site and one of the few rainforests remaining in Uganda. This forest in south-western Uganda is home to the most famous primates, the mountain gorillas. The forest is found in Kanungu, Rubanda, and Kisoro districts along the Democratic Republic of Congo border with Uganda and is a close proxy with Virunga National Park in DRC.

Baby Gorilla in Buhoma Sector

The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is a habitat for several animals, hosting about 120 mammal species, 248 bird species, 220 butterfly species, and 27 frog species, among other creatures. Of these, however, the huge apes, the mountain gorillas, are the most sought-after mammals. With only about 880 mountain gorillas left in the world, Bwindi National Park houses about 450 (almost half) of these primates. Mgahinga National Park in Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, and Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo contain the other mountain gorillas. The mountain gorillas in Bwindi National Park form over 12 habituated gorilla families, which tourists can trek every day of the year in four sectors of Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, and Nkuringo. Rangers know each gorilla in Bwindi individually, and they give each one a name to easily identify them.

Interesting fact: In case you’re wondering how these gorillas understand their given names, remember they share about 98% of their genes with humans.

Mountain gorillas

Scientific name Gorilla beringei beringei, live in forests that are in the mountains, in this case, the forests that are near the Virunga Mountains. Their most famous characteristic is the thick fur that helps them keep warm during the cold seasons. The average male gorilla is about 180 kg and is at an average height of 170cm; they can live up to over 40 years old, both male and female. Gorillas have dark brown eyes, and the adult males have a silver lining on their backs, hence the name silverback.

These primates, like humans, are highly social, building lifetime relationships with each other. As mentioned earlier, they live in families headed by a male and that contain about 5 to 30 gorillas. Interestingly, these groups contain 3 to 4 mature females that are bonded to the head silverback for life, 3 to 6 infants, a subordinate silverback, and other gorillas. The leader silverback determines the group’s journeys and is responsible for the protection of the group.

Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi National Park

Mountain gorillas are primarily vegetarian and eat throughout the day. They stick to fruits, bamboo shoots, stems, roots, tree bark, and pulp. However, they sometimes feed on things like termites to boost their sodium levels. Research shows that they do not eat or sleep in one place, which gives a chance for their food to grow very fast.

Second to being famous at Bwindi National Park are the other 10 species of primates. They include the black and white colobus monkeys, the L’hoest’s monkeys, baboons, chimpanzees, De Brazza monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, the blue monkey, Potto, Demidoff’s Galago, and Spectacled Galago. These are rarely seen because they hide in the thickets of the impenetrable forest.

Bird species

The birds are also a stronghold in Bwindi National Park. With over 340 species of unique birds, Bwindi is one of the best places for bird watching in the country. The forest is home to many globally endangered species, some of which include the Chapin’s Flycatcher, Grauer’s Broadbill, and Shelley’s Crimson-wing. More of these Regal sunbirds, Bronze-naped pigeon, handsome francolin, collared apalis, white-bellied robin chat, the black-billed turaco, and many more species.

Butterfly species

Bwindi National Park is also home to over 200 butterfly species, including the African and cream-banded swallowtails.

Other Forest Species

Bwindi has over 120 mammal species living in the forest, making Bwindi second in mammal numbers compared to the wilderness of Queen Elizabeth National Park. The eleven primate species found here include black-and-white colobus and L’Hoest’s monkeys, baboons, and chimps. There are also forest elephants and several species of antelopes. Of Bwindi’s 200 butterfly species, 42 are endemic to the Albertine Rift.

It is also home to more than 20 species of amphibians, including 14 species of snakes and 14 species of lizards. Other animal species in Bwindi National Park include the elephants, geckos, and chameleons.