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Gorillas are one of
our closest living relatives,
and yet they're also among the rarest animals on Earth.
At the brink of extinction,
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humans are to blame for their demise.
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Their body parts are used in traditional medicine.
Diseases have been spread by people entering the forest.
They have lost vast expanses of land to human development.
And they are killed and eaten,
illegally harvested to feed an ever-growing population.
We are pushing a close cousin out of existence.
Why should we care?
Get to know a typical day for a typical family and find out.
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(leaves rustling)
In legend, the huge fearsome male gorilla
was something to fear.
His maturity is written in his fur.
An iconic silverback.
The term given to male gorillas, that like humans,
develop some gray hair with age.
He stands about as tall as an average man,
but weighs more than twice as much.
A mass of muscle.
He's immensely powerful,
but does he throw his weight around?
Not so much.
Actually, he uses his incredible power to defend his family,
and today he stands proud watching over his newborn son.
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(leaves rustling)
He's the dominant animal in a troop of about a dozen.
(leaves rustling)
His family members are all females and their offspring.
He fathered each of the babies in this troop.
The new baby causes great excitement in the group.
Everyone wants to meet the new arrival.
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For their own safety, all of the gorillas in the troop
need to know each other.
They must learn to recognize one another
and help to keep the clan together.
(leaves rustling)
The mother is protective.
This is her first baby.
Like humans, gorillas are slow to mature.
They don't start to breed until they reach their teens.
Even fully grown, the mothers only half
the weight of the silverback.
This little one arrived, like a human baby,
after nearly nine months of pregnancy.
Just like a human infant, it's entirely dependent
on its mother and will stay in physical contact with her
for at least its first five months of life.
Even after a year, young gorillas are rarely out
of arm's reach of their mothers.
Most of the other infants in the troop are two
or three years old and hang out together for fun and games.
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(leaves rustling)
But there's not much opportunity for playtime this morning.
The silverback watches carefully.
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The responsibility for the health and safety
of the whole family rests squarely on his broad shoulders.
He decides on a plan each day to safely get
his family to food and water.
And now it's time to leave.
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The troop's home range is about 10 square kilometers
deep in the heart of West Africa's tropical rainforest.
A dense, tangled, massive forest and wetland.
A maze to most, but the silverback knows his patch
like the back of his hand.
His intimate knowledge is vital to provide
his family with all that they need.
(leaves rustling) (birds squawking)
He might lead them over 1,000 meters a day
to ensure a fresh supply of food.
His ability to plan for the future
based on experience from the past
is an example of the gorilla's deep intelligence.
This nomadic lifestyle also ensures
that no one patch of forest is overused
and will be good to return to in the future.
One of the key reasons for keeping on the move
is to follow the ripening of fruit trees.
Finding fresh fruit for breakfast is his plan.
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Dense jungle can harbor many dangers,
which is why the family must stay together.
They also keep safe by being aware
of their other animal neighbors.
(dramatic music) (birds chirping)
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(branch rustling)
If the birds and the monkeys are quiet,
the gorillas are safe.
If they spot danger they will sound the alarm.
But for now it sounds like the troop is safe to proceed.
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(water trickling)
Their homeland is crisscrossed with streams and rivers,
one of the outcomes of living in a rainforest.
Humans are the only great apes that seem to enjoy a dunk.
The others prefer not to paddle if they can help it.
They cautiously test the water.
Tool use was thought to be a strictly human trait,
but wild gorillas have been seen using logs
as bridges and placing long sticks in the water
to measure its depths.
Fortunately, today they don't need to.
They trust the silverback's choice in leading
them through the shallows.
(light music) (water splashing)
The youngsters seem to have a mixed reaction
to the experience.
One is so unsure that she tries to find a way to climb over,
but others see it as yet another excuse to play.
(playful music) (water splashing)
Gorillas rarely drink.
They get plenty of moisture from their plant diet,
but the crossing gives them a chance to take a sip.
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(water splashing)
And then they're on their way.
(birds squawking) (monkeys hollering)
A troop of drills are already foraging
on foreign fruit when they arrive.
The drills are baboon cousins that specialize
in rainforest living.
Like the gorillas, they live in clans of 10 to 20
led by a dominant male.
They seem happy to move on
when the silverback leads his family in.
(birds squawking) (leaves rustling)
Though gorillas spend a lot of time on the ground,
they retain good climbing skills
and the youngsters seem to race up
to reach the ripest fruits.
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Their efforts dislodge plenty of others,
so the heavyweight silverback can sit underneath
and take his pick.
He sniffs the fruit to check it's ripe.
(leaves rustling) (bugs trilling)
Dad's done well.
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There's a feast for the family.
Once all their bellies are full,
it's time for a siesta.
(birds chirping) (leaves rustling)
Most of them make a bed before they settle,
either in the trees or on the ground.
Pulling together leaves and branches
to make a comfortable mattress.
Another example of gorilla tool use.
(gorilla snoring)
While the adults are quick to get some shut eye,
it would be peaceful were it not for the youngsters.
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The little ones seem to have different ideas.
It's not just babies in the group,
there are adolescents as well.
Much bigger and stronger individuals who
have not yet reached maturity.
But as they develop and hormones kick in,
they can get a bit boisterous.
Sometimes their games get a bit out of hand.
The father doesn't care for the young directly
like the mothers, but will intervene
to stop them getting hurt.
The big boys play too rough.
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But not for long.
(gorilla hollering)
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The adolescent male gets a telling off.
Gorillas are strong and can be rough,
but serious injuries are rare.
It's just enough to put him in his place.
The young male will soon face a choice.
Most gorillas leave their family as they reach maturity.
Young males have the choice of staying,
but only if they're willing to remain subordinate
to the silverback.
He'll keep them around as wing men to help guard the family
as long as they are willing to follow his lead.
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With the fight settled, mom pulls her youngster
in for a feed.
But now there is no time to rest.
The biggest of primates have huge appetites.
The silverback might eat 20 kilos of food a day,
so the troop heads out for afternoon tea.
This time, the silverback has a different menu in mind,
but access to it is dependent on other jungle residents.
(elephant trumpeting)
Forest elephants.
Slightly smaller than Africa's savanna elephant,
and with distinctive round ears and downward pointing tusks.
Though small by elephant standards,
at up to four tons a piece they have a massive impact
on the surrounding landscape.
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New science has shown that forest elephants
are guardians of the jungle,
dispersing seeds and keeping the canopy open.
Just one herd on the move is enough to create pathways
thanks to their bulk.
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(air blowing)
By letting light reach the forest floor,
they encourage a greater diversity of plants
and allow tree roots to get stronger
resulting in a bigger, healthier canopy.
They are ecosystem engineers,
(elephant trumpets)
and their biggest impact is when they are trying
to fulfill a craving for salt.
Jungle plants are low in sodium
and so the elephants dig into salty mud
so they can drink up a mineral-rich smoothie.
The impacts of their salt cravings are dramatic.
The elephants create huge glades,
places where light can fall on the ground,
encouraging grasses and other plants to grow.
And where water rich in minerals is easily available.
The clearings attract forest buffalo,
African gray parrots,
(birds squawking)
antelope, and a host of other wildlife.
Today, including the gorilla family.
The pachyderms have created a salad bar
rich in the gorilla's favorite herbs and sedges.
Gorillas have been recorded to use more
than 25 different sounds to communicate.
One of the most endearing is humming.
(gorilla humming)
When humans tuck into dessert or an especially tasty meal,
we often make yum sounds to show our appreciation.
Gorillas do the same.
And thanks to the silverback's good leadership skills,
soon the whole troop is humming contentedly.
(gorillas humming)
With thick stems, they strip off the tough outer layers
and chew on the softer pulp within.
It's not long before bellies are bulging.
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(gorilla hollering)
Suddenly an uneasy tension spreads across the troop.
The males heard something.
Bearing the responsibility of the group's safety,
it's hard for him to relax.
(elephants grumbling)
Thanks to his vigilance,
this disturbance hasn't gone unnoticed.
(elephants trumpeting)
Unsure of the threat, the females stand on their back legs
to get a better view.
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(leaves rustling)
A leopard.
One of few animals that might threaten a gorilla's life.
(gorilla grunting)
A quiet signal is given and the young know
to return to their mothers,
clinging on in case a quick exit is required.
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The male is ready to fight.
He wouldn't hesitate to risk his own life
to protect his troop.
But the leopard is an ambush predator,
relying on its camouflage to sneak up on potential prey.
Now that it's been spotted
there's little chance of a successful hunt
and it knows better than to risk a counterattack
from the huge silverback.
Though the danger has diminished,
the silverback makes the wise decision
to take his troop back into the depths of the forest.
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If you know where to look, there's still plenty to eat.
And although plants make up nearly all
of the gorilla's diets, they are not averse
to a bit of protein.
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An experienced female knows exactly where to look.
She rips off bark knowing termites
will be sheltering underneath.
With the termite mound exposed
she can tear off chunks and eat at her leisure.
(birds chirping)
It's a bit like eating a wriggling pomegranate.
Instead of picking the tasty seeds from the pith,
she must fish out termites from their honeycomb home.
Sometimes it's easier to shake them out.
Her youngster dashes in to see what she's up to.
Gorillas have long periods with their mothers,
up to six years, and this is why.
To watch and learn.
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Brow furrowed in concentration,
the little one knows if he can master this technique
he'll be rewarded with a tasty snack.
His study pays off.
This is how learning spreads through the troop;
watching and copying.
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But that's enough for now.
It's been a long day, time for the family to retire.
While the troop is settling down,
one of the females is feeling frisky.
Rolling on her back to flirt,
she solicits the male's attention
and they adopt the missionary position.
Making love face to face was once thought
to be a strictly human trait.
(leaves rustling)
Then finally, the family can enjoy a peaceful night.
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Gorillas are like us in so many ways.
They have growth rates like humans,
where young need nurturing,
and it takes years for them to build
their impressive knowledge.
The long schooling is a sign of intelligence.
They have been shown to be capable of laughter.
They have strong emotional relationships
and will grieve for their dead.
(leaves rustling)
We share 98% of the same DNA as gorillas.
They are not as different from us as you might think.
These gentle giants are guardians of the forest
vital in spreading seeds as they forage.
There are four kinds of gorilla.
This family are western lowland gorillas,
the commonest kind, but common is a relative term.
There are less than 100,000 of them.
They are considered critically endangered.
The other three kinds are much rarer.
And these cross river gorillas, never filmed before,
are the rarest of all
with just 300 left.
It's shocking that we can let our closest relatives
reach such dire low numbers,
but there are people trying to make a difference.
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Dedicated field researchers, rangers,
and anti-poaching patrols spend decades in the forest
working in difficult conditions
in order to protect and study the last gorillas.
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Orphans are brought to wildlife rehabilitation centers
where they are shown love and kindness,
where they can become ambassadors
for their relatives in the wild.
Most rescued gorillas are kept in clans,
trying to replicate their lifestyles in the wild.
But not this one.
After seeing her mother killed for meat
and being abused as a baby,
she was rescued and became the only cross river gorilla
ever brought into captivity.
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For most of her life people were the only family she knew,
but they did their best to fulfill
her need to have a loving family.
She lived in captivity for 12 years.
During her life she showed just how close humans
and gorillas are.
She didn't have keepers, she had friends.
If only more humans would extend the hand of friendship
and care this much about their closest cousins
ensuring a future for us all.
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