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The Great Apes
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Credits to Gorilla Doctors.
On December 22nd, Dr. Martin entered Virunga National Park with a team of rangers to perform a routine health check on the Rugendo group. All 9 members are reportedly healthy and eating well! Silverback Baseka  *This image is copyright of its original author Bagambe with her baby  *This image is copyright of its original author Lead silverback Bukima with his family  *This image is copyright of its original author Silverback Kongomani too busy feeding to notice the veterinarians & rangers  *This image is copyright of its original author Lead silverback Bukima feeding with his family  *This image is copyright of its original author Lead silverback Bukima and silverback Kongomani  *This image is copyright of its original author
I grew up during the '50s and 60s when the bull gorilla was still a monster. We saw gorilla's everywhere. On the cover of comic books. On TV dramas. On jungle movies, horror movies, and comedies. The mighty gorilla was thought to be as fierce as a lion and as strong as a grizzly - a real man-killing monster. It was even thought that native women were often taken by these big apes and carried off into the jungle. Oh yes! I loved gorillas!
Then along came a very brave and intelligent lady named Diane Fossey. She killed the monster and saved the gorilla. Much is said about the strength of the bull gorilla. I have read some outrageous estimations. But just how strong is a silverback gorilla really? (01-09-2018, 04:31 PM)brotherbear Wrote: Much is said about the strength of the bull gorilla. I have read some outrageous estimations. But just how strong is a silverback gorilla really? I don't think anyone really knows. The closest anyone might be to having an idea ar those that see them in their every day life, when they see them brake off branches or bring down small trees as if just a leaf, or when they're angry and fight rival males, but even then a gorilla helds himself in check, they're very controlled animals so I doubt they put all of their strenght even when doing said things. As for your fascination with them, I share it also, as you might have noticed. They have always represented that raw power and masculinity that's always in control, not in an agressive way like a lion would do, but in a much more controlled manner, and that has held true after learning how they really are them in the wild and not just how I might see them. In a lot of ways, save the obvious, they are very similar to male bears.
https://www.livescience.com/61344-bonobo...drels.html
"You like me because I'm a scoundrel," interstellar smuggler Han Solo confidently told Princess Leia Organa in the 1981 film "The Empire Strikes Back." And scientists recently discovered a similar preference in bonobos, the great apes that are close relatives of chimpanzees. Bonobos (Pan paniscus) are helpful sweethearts compared with their more aggressive chimp cousins (Pan troglogytes). But a new study found that these generally peaceful primates were also more likely to respond positively to individuals that were selfish, bullying or downright mean.
Credits to Nelis Wolmarans.
@kahuzibiegaparc Grauer’s Gorilla Silverback Bonané ... Our 4th Gorilla trek today and what an amazing day it was! Last trek tomorrow and looking forward to spending more time photographing and observing this big guy...
Credits to Gorilla Doctors.
Dr. Methode performed a routine health check on Kwitonda Group in Volcanoes National Park Rwand. They came across the group shortly after a tourist visit--all of the gorillas were calm and busy feeding. All of the gorillas in this group were in good visual health. One of the infants peering over dominant silverback Karevuro's back  *This image is copyright of its original author Contemplating how he will reach the food in the tree  *This image is copyright of its original author Trying to get food down from a tree (major concentration face!)  *This image is copyright of its original author Blackback Karibu resting on the ground  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author Silverback Kigoma feeding  *This image is copyright of its original author
Credits to Gorilla Doctors.
Dr. Gaspard trekked into Volcanoes National Park Rwanda to do a routine health check on Sabyinyo group last week. This group had sustained a respiratory infection outbreak over a month ago and even required medical support from our veterinarians when silverback Gihishamwotsi took a turn for the worse. Fortunately our intervention helped him overcome the infection! Due to thick vegetation and a downpour of rain, the health check was quite difficult but our teams go out in the field regardless of weather conditions to check on the health of their wild gorilla patients. Dr. Gaspard is pleased to report that Sabyinyo group appears to be in good health. Silverback Gihishamwotsi  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author Gukina with her baby  *This image is copyright of its original author Infant Icyemezo  *This image is copyright of its original author Isheja  *This image is copyright of its original author Twiyubake  *This image is copyright of its original author Umutungo  *This image is copyright of its original author
Credits to Daryl Balfour.
Silverback Guhonda of Sabyinyo group.  *This image is copyright of its original author
https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/tripide...spartanntp
Eight of us, including my dad, clung to tangled vines to steady ourselves against the slippery undergrowth along a slope in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. We were there to spot gorillas, and the forest was eerily quiet while we waited. Roger Amani, one of our guides, looked at us with a finger to his lips, reminding us that we couldn’t make a sound. If we did, we might scare the primates away. We scanned the thick vegetation of African redwood trees. We knew from our trackers that the family we had hiked three hours to see, the Agashyas, were in the vicinity. One of my fellow hikers, an older gentleman from Boston, looked at me and whispered, “You know that movie ‘Gorillas in the Mist’? I feel like we’re living it.” A few minutes later, there he was: the silverback Agashya, the head of the family, sleeping underneath a redwood and surrounded by a half-dozen gorillas. I grabbed my dad’s hand and squeezed it so hard that his skin turned deep red. This moment was why I had come to Rwanda.
Credits to Gorilla Doctors.
This past weekend Dr. Martin checked in on Humba group in Virunga National Park. It appears silverback Humba is still in charge, though silverback Mahindure is beginning to challenge his leadership. Dr. Martin is pleased to report that all members of Humba group are in good visual health! Silverback Mahindure with Kanyalire's baby  *This image is copyright of its original author Kanyalire's baby  *This image is copyright of its original author Silverback Humba with Bonane and her babies in the rain  *This image is copyright of its original author
Credits to Dain Fossey Gorilla Fund.
Two silverback brothers, Icumbi and Turakomeje, playing it cool. They both live in Musilikale's group with their mother and matriarch Mahane. Musilikale's group is the most successful among groups in terms of births and attracting female! The success of the group is mainly due to the presence of three silverbacks - Icumbi, Turakomeje and the dominant Musilikale.  *This image is copyright of its original author
Credits to Gorilla Doctors.
On April 8, silverback Byishimo of Igisha group was observed with fresh bite wounds caused by an internal fight with another young silverback, Intsinzi. Three days later, rangers reported that he was showing signs of lameness--a clinical evaluation was suggested so Dr. Noel visited the group to assess Byishimo's condition. Dr. Noel observed bite wounds on his left thigh, left heel, and right side of his back. Fortunately the skin lesions were healing well by this time and he was feeding at normal levels. It appears the bite wounds have no implications on the overall health of Byishimo, and he was no longer exhibiting signs of lameness. The rest of Igisha group was in good visual health. Silverback Byishimo  *This image is copyright of its original author One of Byishimo's bite wounds  *This image is copyright of its original author Members of Igisha group feeding on bamboo  *This image is copyright of its original author Silverback Intsinzi displaying  *This image is copyright of its original author Juvenile Ingwemwe playing in a tree  *This image is copyright of its original author
Credits to Bobby-Jo Photography.
So here is my favourite family portrait of the Rugendo Mountain Gorilla Family. It almost looks like the typical awkward human family portrait. Mum, dad and the two kids... One is shy and doesn't want their photo taken and the other child is showing off! I will be posting lots more images of this very relaxed gorilla family in the near future because they have a special story that will break your heart. Here are their names: Silverback: Bukima (26 years) Adult Female: Bagambe (10 years) Small Juvenile Male: Bwambale (2 years) Large Juvenile Male: Mayani (4 years)  *This image is copyright of its original author
Credits to Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund.
Who’s in charge? Lone silverbacks fight for a group Field staff at the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund are witnessing an unusual situation among the mountain gorilla groups we monitor, which are normally led by one adult male silverback. Changes in leadership – called dominance – happen from time to time in various ways. Sometimes it can be due to the death of the dominant silverback but at other times a solitary silverback can intrude and pose a challenge, usually by getting one or more females to transfer to him. Silverback Urugwiro  *This image is copyright of its original author But in recent weeks, we have been observing a situation where a lone silverback – named Kubona – arrived in a group and seemed to take over from the dominant silverback, Urugwiro. Both of these silverbacks are fairly young, with Kubona at 16 and Urugwiro at 17 years old. And they were born and raised in the same group, called Pablo’s group. In 2014, they each left their natal group and eventually became solitary silverbacks, living independently without a group. In 2017, Urugwiro managed to form a group of his own, by gaining two females from other groups. Kubona also managed to gain a female but his liaison lasted only a few days. He tried several more times to gain females but was not successful. Then, on March 28 of this year, our staff saw Kubona interacting with Urugwiro, which started with a violent fight and injuries to both silverbacks. After that fight, Kubona seemed to have won the rights to be with the two females, displacing Urugwiro from his dominant position. For many days, the situation then stayed calm and Urugwiro stayed on the periphery of the group. After a month, he left and became solitary again. But, just as we decided to re-name the group after Kubona, Urugwiro reappeared, on April 24. Although Kubona chased him off, it’s possible that Urugwiro may not be ready to give up just yet. Solitary males are very interesting, because they usually have an ambitious personality, compared to those who remain in their natal groups and work more toward cooperation and group cohesiveness. So observing two lone silverbacks vying to lead a group is a noteworthy occurrence. “It is always interesting to observe lone silverbacks trying to strategize while challenging a group,” says Veronica Vecellio, the Fossey Fund’s gorilla program senior advisor. “We were glad that the conflict between Urugwiro and Kubona seemed to end without serious consequences. We hope things remain peaceful and can’t wait to see when one of the females gives birth – and to determine who the father is!” Silverback Kubona with female Bukima  *This image is copyright of its original author
Credits to Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund.
Legendary silverback Cantsbee left us last year, but his younger brother Mafunzo (who closely resembles Cantsbee) is still going strong. Mafunzo is among the largest of the monitored silverbacks and has been leading his own group of 12 gorillas since 2014! Can you see the family resemblance? |
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