Types of Plants Gorillas Feed on
May 18, 2025
Fruits Gorillas Feed on
May 18, 2025In the dense forests of Central and East Africa, gorillas have evolved to thrive on a predominantly vegetarian diet that goes beyond fruits and leaves to include plant stems, shoots, and young bamboo. These components are rich in fiber, water, and essential micronutrients, forming a critical part of the gorilla’s nutrition—especially during the dry season when other food sources are scarce.
Gorillas use their powerful hands and strong teeth to strip, snap, and chew these tough plant parts with remarkable efficiency, often consuming large quantities to meet their daily dietary needs. Their digestive systems are highly adapted to fermenting and processing fibrous vegetation, allowing them to extract maximum nutrients from each stem or shoot.
Visitors trekking for gorillas in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park can witness these gentle giants foraging on stems and shoots, providing a fascinating glimpse into their natural feeding behavior.
The following are key stems and shoots gorillas frequently consume in the wild, showcasing the variety that sustains these incredible primates:
1. Bamboo Shoots (Yushania alpina)
Bamboo shoots are a highly prized seasonal delicacy among mountain gorillas, especially in the Virunga and Bwindi forests. These young, tender shoots emerge during the rainy season and are packed with water and essential nutrients, including carbohydrates, potassium, and fiber. Gorillas use their strength to snap off the base of the shoot, strip away the tough outer layer, and chew the soft, juicy inner core. These shoots provide a burst of energy and hydration and are often eaten in large quantities when in season. The availability of bamboo can even influence gorilla group movements and feeding patterns.
2. Celery-like Stems (Peucedanum spp.)
The same Peucedanum plants that provide edible leaves also offer succulent, crunchy stems that gorillas relish. These stems are often consumed with or without the leaves, depending on their maturity. Gorillas skillfully harvest the stalks, sometimes stripping off the fibrous edges before chewing. The water content in these stems helps maintain hydration, and the pleasant flavor makes them a regular part of the foraging routine. Their widespread presence in highland forests ensures a steady supply year-round.
3. Wild Ginger Stems (Aframomum spp.)
Aframomum, a relative of cultivated ginger, is a tropical forest plant that gorillas feed on for both its stems and fruits. The young stems are aromatic and soft, containing juice and fiber. Gorillas chew these stems not only for nutrition but possibly for their mild medicinal and digestive properties. These plants grow in moist, shaded areas along forest floors and are often found near streams and swamps. In addition to nourishment, some researchers believe the aromatic compounds may have antimicrobial effects in the gorilla’s digestive tract.
4. Thistle Stems (Carduus or Cirsium spp.)
After carefully removing the spiny outer leaves, gorillas often consume the soft inner stems of thistle plants. These stems are fibrous but tender enough for gorillas to chew and digest easily. Thistle stems are rich in cellulose, which supports the microbial fermentation processes in the gorilla’s large intestine. While not as juicy as bamboo or celery-like plants, thistles are valued for their bulk and are often consumed during dry seasons or in degraded forest areas where other plants may be scarce.
5. Nettles (Urtica massaica and Urera spp.) – Young Stalks
Gorillas don’t limit themselves to the leaves of nettles—they also eat the tender, young stalks. Despite the stinging hairs, these plants are consumed whole when young and soft. The stems are particularly rich in iron and calcium, and their high moisture content helps with hydration. The gorillas’ technique of folding or rolling the plants in their mouths helps neutralize the sting. This plant part is especially important for pregnant or lactating females who need more minerals to support reproduction.
6. Marantochloa spp. (Arrowroot Relatives)
Marantochloa species are large-leafed understory plants related to arrowroot and bananas. Gorillas often strip the outer fibers of the fleshy petioles (leaf stalks) and eat the inner portions, which are juicy and easy to chew. These stems are rich in starch and water and are especially helpful in balancing the high-fiber portions of the gorilla diet. The abundance of Marantochloa in some forest zones makes it a key fallback food when more seasonal delicacies like fruits or bamboo shoots are not available.
7. Rubus spp. (Wild Blackberry Canes)
While better known for their leaves and fruits, Rubus species (wild blackberries) also have tender canes that young gorillas and juveniles often chew on. These canes are soft when young and contain sap that adds both hydration and minerals to the diet. Older gorillas tend to focus more on the leaves and berries, but the shoots are valuable for their availability in disturbed or regenerating forest zones.
8. Acanthus pubescens – Soft Stalks
The large, coarse leaves of Acanthus pubescens are often accompanied by fibrous yet consumable stalks that gorillas ingest whole or in strips. While not the tastiest option, these stalks help increase dietary bulk and support gut health through their fiber content. They are commonly eaten alongside more succulent stems to round out the gorilla’s daily foraging intake.
