How rising heat is changing mountain gorilla behaviour

Mountain gorillas are retreating deeper into the bush as the climate warms.

Photo credit: File | AFP

Climate change is forcing mountain gorillas to drink more water as rising temperatures alter their behaviour.

Normally, the great apes get most of their hydration from plants and fruits in the rainforests of Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. But researchers now report a clear link between hotter days and more frequent drinking among gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park.