00:00The last time a man and a gorilla killed a common parent was about 10 million years ago.
00:05Scientists have discovered that, in a proportion of about 15%,
00:10the genes of gorillas are closer to human genes than those of our closest relatives, chimpanzees.
00:15But overall, our genes are quite similar.
00:18Humans and chimpanzees share more than 98% of genes, and gorillas more than 96%.
00:26So we are all distant genetic cousins.
00:29Note that all monkeys are not gorillas.
00:31The terminology is mixed in everyday language.
00:34It's going to sound like a riddle, but here's what it is.
00:37On one side, there are monkeys with tails.
00:39And on the other, the big monkeys that don't have tails.
00:42Since gorillas don't have tails, they are classified among the big monkeys.
00:46The other big monkeys are orangutans, chimpanzees, giant chimpanzees, and bonobos.
00:52Monkeys are another type of primate, and they have a tail.
00:56They are of different sizes and species, such as macaques and capuchins.
01:00Primates are a generic category that includes big monkeys, monkeys, lemurs, tarsiers, and a few other animals.
01:08Primates are known for their prehensile hands, their eyes placed in front of the head, and their complex social behavior.
01:15Let's put gorillas first.
01:17They are the largest of the big monkeys, are known for their strength, and live in the forests of Africa.
01:23The films King Kong and The Planet of the Apes, L'Affrontement, give an idea of the strength of these animals.
01:30An adult male gorilla, often referred to as a silver-backed gorilla, is stronger than 20 adult humans combined.
01:38To put things in perspective, a silver-backed gorilla can lift 1,800 kg without effort when lying down,
01:46while the strongest human halterophiles can only lift about 400 kg.
01:52These animals are therefore on average 4 to 9 times stronger than humans.
01:55This remarkable strength is not just a show, it plays an essential role in their social dynamics.
02:01In their group, which can include 5 to 30 gorillas, silver-backed gorillas must win their title of chief and protector.
02:08They have a robust conical-shaped head that has prominent ridges.
02:12These characteristics allow them to support the muscles of the jaw and teeth.
02:17Can a human face a gorilla in combat?
02:19Man would have no chance in the event of a direct confrontation.
02:22Gorillas are the largest primates in the world, and are among the most powerful creatures on the planet.
02:28In fact, if you engage in a melee fight with a silver-backed gorilla, your survival would depend solely on the gorilla's good will.
02:37Even their natural conflicts, such as battles between silver-backed gorillas or with other gorillas,
02:43show the formidable power of these creatures.
02:47If you hit a silver-backed gorilla with all your might, you would probably end up breaking your arm.
02:53Gorillas' skin and skull are thicker than that of humans,
02:57which makes it exceptionally difficult for us to inflict injuries on these remarkable primates.
03:03For example, mountain gorillas are endowed with a dense fur,
03:07intended to resist the harsh climate,
03:09but it also serves as protection against superficial injuries, such as blows or bites.
03:16Now let's talk about the strength of a gorilla's fist.
03:19It is so powerful that it could break the skull of a human being in one fell swoop.
03:23This strength is between 590 and 1,220 kilograms.
03:28It's about the equivalent of the weight of a small car on your head.
03:33For comparison, gorillas, which weigh on average 180 kilograms,
03:38have a muscle mass density about four times higher than that of the most muscular humans.
03:45If you extract a volume of muscle fiber from a human and a gorilla,
03:50you will see that the gorilla's muscle fibers are four times more numerous than that of the human.
03:55In addition, gorillas have bones that are, on average, three times thicker, heavier and more calcified than that of humans.
04:02Now let's briefly examine the hypothetical scenario of a gorilla facing not a human, but a lion.
04:08If gorillas and lions live together in East Africa, they occupy very different terrains.
04:14Gorillas thrive in thick forests at altitudes ranging from 1,600 to 3,800 meters,
04:20while African lions live mainly in the plains, more precisely in the savannah.
04:26In any case, lions have evolved to hunt and defend their territory,
04:31and they have impressive fangs.
04:34These fangs are probably intended to attract females and intimidate other males.
04:39On their side, gorillas have large, elongated canines,
04:43mainly intended for parading and intimidation rather than hunting.
04:47Gorillas have one of the most powerful bites of the animal kingdom,
04:51about 590 kilograms per square centimeter, twice that of a lion.
04:57But it is not certain that this advantage can compensate the lion's predatory arsenal,
05:02composed of teeth and claws designed for hunting.
05:05We cannot know with certainty which of the two would win the fight.
05:10And did you know that gorillas are also herbivorous musicians?
05:13They may not compose a symphony and do not play the piano,
05:17but they have a gift for inventing unique rhythms in nature.
05:20They are used to using their chest like a drum.
05:24This rhythmic chest beating is not a sign of aggressiveness or anger,
05:29as you might assume at first glance.
05:32It is rather a form of personal communication and expression
05:36that reveals fascinating aspects of the social dynamics of gorillas.
05:40Within their family groups, they establish complex hierarchies and maintain links.
05:45Chest beating is a way for individuals to affirm their presence and domination within the group.
05:51The intensity and duration of the beatings can vary.
05:54The stronger and more pronounced the beats,
05:57the more they testify to the assurance and authority of the gorilla.
06:00This behavior is all the more endearing
06:02as young gorillas often try to imitate adult chest beatings.
06:06It looks a lot like the way we learn to speak.
06:10Thus, this drumming is both a learning experience
06:14and a way for young people to integrate into the social fabric of the group.
06:20This could also mean that Tarzan calls Jane.
06:24Scientists have deciphered another aspect of gorilla drumming.
06:28It turns out that their beating varies depending on their size.
06:32The big males are like the bassists of the jungle.
06:36They play at the lowest frequencies.
06:39How do they do that?
06:41Maybe because they have extra-large air pockets near their vocal cords.
06:46This discovery suggests that female gorillas listen to these concerts
06:50in order to choose their ideal partner.
06:52Gorillas make tools out of sticks and leaves
06:56to accomplish tasks such as collecting food
06:59and evaluating the depth of the water.
07:01This shows their ability to solve problems.
07:04And who knows?
07:05Maybe one day they will start making instruments
07:08to accompany their chest beatings in a purely musical way.
07:12In addition to chest beatings,
07:14gorillas have an absolutely fascinating range of behaviors.
07:17For example, they move away from a dominant individual
07:20showing their indifference in the simplest way possible.
07:23Gorillas also use their faces to communicate,
07:26just as we signal our emotions through expression.
07:30When they play, for example,
07:32gorillas open their mouths and let their lower lips hang
07:36without uncovering their teeth.
07:38Young members of this species are the ones who like to make this noise the most.
07:42It's a bit like human laughter.
07:45Gorillas show their teeth in different ways.
07:48There is, for example, the expression
07:50« tooth discovery ».
07:52This time, it's not a laugh, but a smile.
07:55If you see a gorilla with his mouth open
07:58and showing his two rows of teeth,
08:00know that he is smiling at you.
08:02In the world of monkeys, this is a sign of submission.
08:05In addition, male gorillas can reveal their teeth when they bark,
08:09which is a sign of warning in times of distress.
08:12In reality, you will see that these animals are rather peaceful creatures.
08:16People observe them in their natural habitat,
08:19during safaris or circuits.
08:21These experiments are safe,
08:23because participants receive instructions before going hiking.
08:27These primates are social creatures
08:30that live within very close family groups.
08:33Among the species of gorillas, the mountain gorilla,
08:36which lives in the forests of East Africa,
08:38is generally considered the least dangerous for humans.
08:41Thanks to tourism and scientific research,
08:44these gorillas have become accustomed to the human presence.
08:49Welcome to the curious benevolent.
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