For them a close relationship with their father can be vital. They frequently stay close to him, they lean on him and include him in their games. Young animals always search out the group leader who usually is their father as well. Man isn’t typically a direct threat in terms of poaching, as gorillas are well protected by dedicated rangers, but gorillas habitat is under pressure from communities for farming and charcoal production. “a silverback gorilla and a leopard were both found dead from mutually inflicted wounds”. George Schaller, biologist in his study ‘ Making a Last Stand Counterattack and Chutzpah Living Primates‘ in 2011 reported, The silverback male has one sole job, and that is to protect the family, sacrificing himself if need be. It’s not personal it’s just that the leopard is hungry. A leopard will kill and eat any unprotected gorillas. It’s not all hedonism, they have three threats the leopard, other gorillas and man. Silverback gorilla, Image credit C.Culbert Wilderness Safaris The Silverback’s fatherly role as the protector Gorillas are not so much the master carpenters, but they do make their own beds daily (nests) leaving more time for contemplating his odd cousins from the lowlands. According to the ancient burial archaeological finds Neolithic man was a supreme craftsman – he had a lot of spare time on his hands to make things and invent. Well perhaps a few thousand years ago when the average Neolithic man spent just two and a half days working, the rest of the time it was free for his own hobbies. They do this every day, not just Christmas.Ī nice life, but nothing like mine, or perhaps yours. Gorillas get a full blissful eight hours of beauty sleep unless of course the weather is cold and overcast when the whole family has a lie in. Watch John as he experiences the thrill and wonder of young wild mountain gorillas curiously touching his face and hair in this video clip of a gorilla encounter. During playing they practise communication and learn many patterns of behaviour that are not instinctive. It helps the children to get familiar with every single animal and to be accepted as a part of the group. Playing has a very important role in the life of young gorillas and in their integration into the group. A great deal of time is spent teaching and playing with their nearest and dearest. Siesta comes at midday and whilst their youngsters play freely, the elders will casually snore away, post a morning of foraging – it could almost be a scene from a family Christmas Day! It’s their social time too and the group interacts most during these rest periods. In between they take gentle walks through the forest by babbling mountain brooks, stopping every now and again for a family picnic, foraging the finest raw, vegetarian whole foods and insects with the occasional small mammal treat. Spending half of the day eating, gorillas spend another third of their day resting. Mother and baby gorilla, in Rwanda image credit Volcanoes Safaris
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