the young Gorillas. But Gorillas are extremely intelligent and smart. They watch their human protectors and learn. One Silverback male leader headed off a Patrol Guard in order for one of his sons to arrive on the scene so the young son could see how the Patrol Guard dismantled the snare! The protective patrols follow their assigned Gorilla family troup—day and night, around the clock. It is a dangerous mission, but a loving and prideful one. There is a special understanding and hospitable relationship between the Gorillas and the Humans. Only one hour at a time is allowed for our scientists to observe, study, and photograph family interaction. Never touching the Gorillas, of course. As our group prepared to depart, I asked Oscar, our Ranger Chief, to take a photograph of me in front
he chose to move closer, I simply give him the Gorilla “Chortle” sound, which means, between Gorillas, “I’m okay, you’re okay, so let’s be okay together” …. He responded! He continued to watch me. Perhaps he was intrigued with my red hair. At a respectful distance, he watched me while I attended to my duties. His expression was curious and studying, but calm. He followed me at that respectful distance as I moved around his family group. He and his family were habituated nicely to small Human Scientific Groups. The Gorillas understand that the Human Patrols they see from time to time are there to protect their lives from treacherous poachers. Although Gorillas can certainly hold their own with any humans or animals, guns used by bad humans are a different kind of harm. Also, poacher snares are dangerous, especially for
of a small grouping of Mama Gorillas and their young ones. Oscar obliged. As I stood in front with the group in the background, Agasha stepped forward with only a small foliage hedge between us, side-by-side. Oscar said, “Agasha is just behind you.” I said, “Okay, but if he starts to step forward beyond the hedge, tell me! I am going to step forward, too!” The photo was taken… side-by-side! The Great Agasha! By the way, that photo ended up in Africa Geographic Magazine: Agasha and Mama Magina! We all chortled our good-byes and started our long, long journey down the Rain Forest Mountain, sludging through the mud and crossing the rocky terrain to our parked van awaiting…. On to our lodge, dinner, and, of course, African tea! A Treat!! A Really Great Gorilla Day… (and, that was just my 1st Gorilla day!) EC
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EC Magazines | Fall Edition 2021
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