Climate crisis is making mountain gorillas less thirsty

New research published in suggests that endangered mountain gorillas have a tendency to drink more water with increasing temperatures. This suggests that climate change could be affecting their behavior. Frontiers in Conservation Science. Researchers used 10 years’ worth of data to observe the only two mountain gorilla populations. They found that both populations drank water more frequently at higher temperatures than those in cooler areas. These results have important implications on the conservation and behavior of mountain gorillas who are facing increasing temperatures and extreme weather events as a result of the climate crisis.

Mountain gorillas live in rainforests and receive most of their nutrients. WaterThey require water from the plants that they eat. However, they will become more dependent on standing water such as a stream or river. Because mountain gorillas live at higher elevationsThey are also more susceptible for faster temperature rises.

“Understanding the process by which animals get water is becoming more important in the face climate change, with warmer temperatures and more Extreme weather conditions“They are predicted to influence water availability which could have implications for how these animals use their limited habitat,” stated Dr. Edward Wright of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology.

“This is especially important in endangered speciesThese are at risk of extinction, like mountain gorillas.”

The mountain gorilla is a subspecies within the eastern gorilla. There are two populations of the mountain gorilla: one in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable national park in Uganda and one in Virunga volcanic hills that border Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List has listed mountain gorillas as endangered. They face constant threats like poaching, habitat destruction, habitat loss, and small populations. There are approximately 1,000 remaining.

Rely on the free-standing water

Wright and his colleagues investigated whether changes in climatic conditions had an impact on mountain gorillas’ water drinking habits. They compared water consumption behavior between 2010-2020 in two populations of mountain gorillas, Virunga and Bwindi. This was then correlated to rainfall and local maximum temperatures.

Both the cooler and warmer temperatures were associated with increased water intake in both populations.

“Mountain gorillas consume water more frequently as the temperature rises.” Wright explained that drinking water is likely to help maintain a healthy body temperature in these conditions.

The survival of endangered animals is affected by how much we rely on free-standing water. Increased water consumption can lead to increased parasite and human disease exposure. Because mountain gorillas live in isolated areas with limited habitat, water availability can be a problem.

Research has also shown that 22% of respondents are female. primate speciesThey are more vulnerable to droughts than primate habitats. However, the global average temperature rise of 10% will cause primate habitats to experience 10% more warmth. Temperatures in habitats will reach a maximum of Mountain gorillas are projected to increase by 1°C to 2.5°C.

Although extensive conservation efforts have been made, the mountain gorilla populationsThis study shows how the climate crisis could have unexpected and new negative consequences for the conservation and survival of species that are listed as ‘critically endangered or endangered’ on the IUCN Red List.

Wright concluded, “Our results suggest that mountain gorillasYou may need to work harder to maintain water equilibrium in the future.