Study examines mountain gorilla diet for high-sodium foods

A new Biotropica A study examines mountain gorillas in Rwanda and their search for high-sodium food in national parks and land managed by local communities.

The obtaining of sodium probably prompts gorillas to leave park areas and to enter high altitude habitats. Both sites are not without risk: leaving their natural habitat and foraging crops can increase the conflict between man and wildlife and visiting high altitude areas can increase the risk of hypothermia.

The findings could advance the discussion on how to adapt land use by local people to effectively combat human-wildlife conflict.

"When gorillas attack eucalyptus trees, they are outside the national park, they come into contact with the inhabitants, which endangers monkeys and humans." To discourage gorillas from crossing the main author, Dr. Cyril Grueter , University of Western Australia, Perth. "Ideally, we would like to promote plant species that are not nutritionally attractive to gorillas."

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More information:
Cyril C. Grueter et al, Going To The Extreme For The Acquisition Of Sodium: Community Land Use And High Altitude Areas By Gorilla Beringei Mountain Gorillas In Rwanda, Biotropica (2018). DOI: 10.1111 / btp.12598