Israeli Photographer Captures Rare Mountain Gorilla Drinking Behavior

An Israeli nature photographer, Matan Sharon, documented a rare event in Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable Forest where a family of mountain gorillas, led by a silverback named Kabuyo, was observed drinking directly from a flowing stream. This behavior is unusual, as mountain gorillas typically obtain all necessary hydration from their diet of leaves and stems, and are known to avoid open water sources, according to primatologist Dian Fossey's research. Sharon's expedition, organized by MW Photo Tours, aimed to photograph the gorillas in their natural habitat, a dense, mountainous region known for its rich biodiversity.

The challenging trek into the forest involved a team of 13 local guides, rangers, and porters. After approximately four and a half hours of hiking, the group encountered the Habinyanja gorilla family. The rare drinking behavior was witnessed alongside other wildlife sightings during the tour, which also included visits to Mabamba Swamp to see the shoebill stork, a boat trip on the Kazinga Channel with hippos and elephants, and observations of chimpanzees in Kibale Forest.

The expedition concluded with a visit to Murchison Falls National Park, known for its open savannah and the dramatic Nile River waterfall. Amidst the wildlife encounters, a personal moment occurred when Amir Hakakian proposed to Nofar Mi-Ron on the banks of the Nile River, leading to a group celebration.