Hobbies And Interests
Prey and Predators
Two often-cited biotic factors are prey and predators. Since mountain gorillas are vegetarians, humans and other animals are not their prey. Only occasionally are mountain gorillas killed by leopards or other meat-eating animals, says "Beacham's Guide to International Endangered Species." Already on the endangered species list, mountain gorillas face their biggest threat from humans, notes this book, who hunt them for body parts, as food, as potential zoo animals, as trophies, to treat diseases and for religious rites.
Food
The mountain gorilla eats a diet heavy in succulents. These gorillas eat some of 142 different kinds of plants and just three kinds of fruit, since fruit is difficult to find at high altitudes. According to Seaworld, about 86 percent of the mountain gorilla's diet is leaves, shoots and stems; 7 percent is roots; 3 percent flowers; 2 percent fruit and 2 percent ants, snails and grubs.
Habitat Disappearing
Due to logging and land-clearing to build housing for expanding populations, the natural habitat of the mountain gorilla is vanishing. In the early morning and in the afternoon they forage for food. At night, they sleep on "beds" made of twigs and leaves.
Diseases
Another threat to mountain gorillas is disease. They are subject to bacterial infections, parasites and viruses. One study found that the older silverback males were more susceptible to parasites than the young and that the older males had more parasites in the wet season than the dry season.