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A Gorilla Story Told By David Attenborough 2026
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00:00:20Over the course of my lifetime, I've visited many extraordinary places.
00:00:31I've met many fascinating creatures, but there are some with which I have felt an especially
00:00:41deep connection.
00:00:51They possess a strength and vigor that far surpasses ours.
00:01:01But when I look at them, it's not their size and their power that fills me with awe.
00:01:09It is the intelligence and awareness I see in their eyes when they look back at me.
00:01:23They fill me with an overwhelming sense of wonder and of fear.
00:01:35But not a fear of them, a fear that I, we, may have missed something.
00:01:47Something important, a deeper understanding of what and who they are, and what that might
00:01:58mean for us.
00:02:17I remember the first time I met mountain gorillas.
00:02:27Monday, the 9th of January, 1978.
00:02:33The perfect cones of the Virunga Volcanoes ahead.
00:02:43We start the one-and-a-half-hour walk up the mountain.
00:02:49Slowly, the nondescript bush transforms into the high-altitude rainforest.
00:03:01Long branched trees loaded with cushions of epiphytes.
00:03:07Green ribbon-leaved ferns with wispy pallid Spanish moss everywhere.
00:03:21We found a group of females and juveniles in a small hearing.
00:03:27And to my astonishment, they allowed me to approach.
00:03:40This would not have been possible without the pioneering work of Diane Fossey.
00:03:49She lived among the gorillas, studying the intimate details of their lives.
00:04:01Because we did as we were instructed by Diane, they accepted us on those same terms.
00:04:09I had to pause and exchange a deep-throated grunt, the reassurance noise, meaning I'm here.
00:04:21Their sight, their hearing, their sense of smell are so similar to ours that we see the world in the
00:04:30same way as they do.
00:04:33And so if there was a possibility of escaping the human condition and living imaginatively in another creature's world, it
00:04:43must be with a gorilla.
00:04:50What I don't say there is that this wasn't supposed to be a film of meeting gorillas directly.
00:05:01The function of the sequence was the importance of the thumb and forefinger, the opposable thumb and forefinger.
00:05:10We didn't think we were going to be in touch with them.
00:05:13We would just sit there and talk about them.
00:05:17I turned, so lying on the ground, I turned and looked back at the camera.
00:05:21I felt a weight on my feet.
00:05:24And I looked down there, there was little Pablo.
00:05:33I couldn't talk about the evolution of the thumb and forefinger.
00:05:37I just sat back and let it happen.
00:05:58Look at this lovely little creature, absolutely engaging, you want to hug him.
00:06:03You know, just, just, just, just bliss really.
00:06:13Many people would think it was the most important sequence in that series.
00:06:17If not actually in my filmed life.
00:06:23There is more meaning and mutual understanding in exchanging the plants with a gorilla than any other animal I know.
00:06:38I have no idea at the time what an incredible life Pablo would lead.
00:06:46Or the legacy he would leave behind.
00:06:52Now I have the chance to tell Pablo's story.
00:06:55And that of his descendants who still inhabit those mountain slopes in the Virungas.
00:07:13Almost 50 years later, this gorilla family, now known as the Pablo Group, are at a crossroads in their story.
00:07:35The dominant silverback and the leader of the group is Gichurasi.
00:07:55He is one of the oldest and most experienced gorillas on the mountain.
00:08:07And the Pablo Group has enjoyed a period of stability under his leadership.
00:08:18That stability is, in part, down to his most important ally.
00:08:28Teta is the dominant female.
00:08:40She has the respect of the group and they follow her lead.
00:08:54Teta and Gichurasi share a unique bond.
00:09:09With her by his side, he has maintained power for five long years.
00:09:37They are the heart of this gorilla family.
00:09:52They are the heart of this gorilla family.
00:09:54But Gichurasi is now well beyond his physical peak.
00:10:03And there are others waiting in line.
00:10:11Ubwuzu.
00:10:15An up-and-coming silverback.
00:10:20Very big.
00:10:22Very big.
00:10:24Very strong.
00:10:26With ambitions of his own.
00:10:33Gichurasi is losing his strength.
00:10:40And Ubwuzu wants to take over as leader.
00:10:45And Ubwuzu wants to take over as leader.
00:11:08Gichurasi.
00:11:09But for now, the group are fixated on Teta's baby.
00:11:18Just as for us, a newborn is a source of fascination.
00:11:27Gichurasi.
00:11:34But she's only a few months old.
00:11:37So Teta must keep her out of harm's way.
00:11:42Especially when things get a bit rowdy.
00:12:00Gorillas of all ages like to play.
00:12:13It's an important part of forging and maintaining bonds.
00:12:38But Ubwuzu is not interested in playing games.
00:12:51Right now, he is focused on Gichurasi.
00:12:59He has outgrown the older male.
00:13:02And is trying to intimidate him.
00:13:18But leading a guerrilla group is not just about brute strength.
00:13:26As I saw for myself all those years ago in Rwanda.
00:13:37The dominant silverback is Beethoven, probably 30 years old.
00:13:50He has an aggressive strut.
00:13:54He comes in and this is a huge animal.
00:13:57I mean, huge compared with you.
00:13:59Just one thumb from his fist could crack your head over.
00:14:06However, Beethoven had another side to him.
00:14:10And it was revealed to me through his relationship with little Pablo.
00:14:18Not long after I met him, his mother disappeared.
00:14:22And he was left to fend for himself.
00:14:31Without the protection of his mother, a guerrilla of Pablo's age would have struggled to survive.
00:14:38But then something remarkable happened.
00:14:42Beethoven, the giant silverback, took him under his wing.
00:14:53He tried his best to care for him as his mother would have done.
00:15:03And Pablo was always by his side.
00:15:16He watched.
00:15:21And he learned.
00:15:30With Beethoven as a father figure, Pablo began to thrive.
00:15:38It was a relationship that would change Pablo's life forever.
00:15:53Just like the guerrillas I met,
00:15:58there are many different personalities within the Pablo group today.
00:16:08And there is one who reminds me of Pablo himself.
00:16:19Not only does he look very similar,
00:16:22he seems to have the same boldness and curiosity.
00:16:30But he has a special fascination with one guerrilla in particular.
00:16:39Imphura.
00:16:58Imphura is at a difficult age.
00:17:02He's on the cusp of adulthood.
00:17:05And his back is beginning to show signs of silver.
00:17:11But his mind is still young.
00:17:30Guerrillas are highly social creatures,
00:17:33and exist in a network of different relationships
00:17:38that help shape who they are
00:17:41and who they will become.
00:17:48It's clear that Imphura has a playful and caring side.
00:17:56But his size and strength are new to him.
00:18:02And it hasn't gone unnoticed.
00:18:04And it hasn't gone unnoticed.
00:18:05And it hasn't gone unnoticed.
00:18:34Meanwhile, Imphura has been seriously injured by Ubuntu.
00:18:59Mm-hmm.
00:19:00And who does it?
00:19:00Well, it's true.
00:19:01I am not sure how it is.
00:19:02And the universe at the moment,
00:19:03I am a very young man.
00:19:04violent side and it's natural for Obwuzu to try to eliminate his
00:19:13competition
00:19:18but Imphura is still young and he didn't know how to defend himself
00:19:53the Pablo group are waking up
00:20:07at 12,000 feet this is the very top of their mountain kingdom
00:20:46Obwuzu is on the move
00:20:54many silverbacks have ruled these mountains
00:20:59now Obwuzu is ready to take his turn
00:21:24but the rest of the group have yet to be convinced
00:21:29and his frustration is building
00:21:42the point is not to frighten them
00:21:49it's to show them how frightening he can be
00:21:54how capable he would be as their leader
00:22:03Gichirassi is watching
00:22:19when you look at any gorilla you can't help but imagine what it is they're thinking or feeling
00:22:30what it is that they want or what they intend to do
00:22:40it's impossible to know for sure
00:22:46we can only observe and wonder
00:22:53one thing is certain however despite their size gorillas are complex and sensitive creatures
00:23:02each one is different with their own unique personality
00:23:06each one is different with their own unique personality
00:23:41infura's wounds are healing
00:23:44but he's staying away from the group
00:24:01at this stage of life male gorillas can become very isolated
00:24:14and even their own families become wary of them
00:24:27young males like infura sometimes choose to leave their group to start their own family
00:24:36and sometimes they're left with no choice but to leave
00:25:01there are other groups out there
00:25:05infura can't see them
00:25:14and some are much larger and more powerful than the pablo group
00:25:36with such big numbers and so many silverbacks outbreaks of violence are more common
00:25:51getting caught alone by one of these large groups would be extremely dangerous for infura
00:25:58infura
00:26:14масштabyas
00:26:28have enough of these large groups from infuse to Потому
00:26:40Ubuzu is looking for food with some of the family.
00:26:51The Papalo group's range is about three square miles.
00:26:58And it contains many different types of plants that make up most of their diet.
00:27:12But gorillas are opportunistic.
00:27:25And Ubuzu has stumbled across something different.
00:27:28It looks different.
00:27:43Ants.
00:27:47But these are army ants who have powerful jaws.
00:28:01and they bite back
00:28:31the excitement brings in others
00:28:56One of the jobs of a dominant silverback
00:28:59is to guide the group to good feeding areas
00:29:13and, more importantly, to bring the group together
00:29:24The woozoo's influence is growing
00:29:41Silverbacks communicate in complex ways
00:29:47and body language plays a big part
00:30:03Where you sit, and how you move, says a lot
00:30:18The woozoo is challenging Gichirazzi
00:30:22by moving directly towards him
00:30:27As the group's leader, Gichirazzi should see him off
00:30:32But he does nothing
00:30:38Teta is watching closely
00:30:49Confrontations between silverbacks can escalate quickly
00:30:58Oop-wozoo, attack
00:31:16Silverbacks are more than twice the size of an adult man
00:31:19Silverbacks are more than twice the size of an adult man
00:31:24They are many times stronger.
00:31:35And fight can end in death.
00:32:03Ubuzu emerges unscathed, but there's no sign of Gacirati.
00:32:40Gacirati has survived the fight, but he's been badly beaten, dominated by the younger
00:32:49male in front of the whole group.
00:33:05As dominant female, Teta must show the group who she supports.
00:33:20She leaves with the older male.
00:33:26And the group follows.
00:33:32After leading for five years, Gacirati has earned their loyalty.
00:33:44Ubuzu has been rejected.
00:33:54Not every silverback has what it takes to lead.
00:33:59Success or failure comes down to character.
00:34:09I only knew Pablo as a three-year-old.
00:34:13But it was clear that he was a unique character even then.
00:34:19Having been adopted and raised by a powerful silverback, by the time he was 18, he was ready to lead
00:34:27for himself.
00:34:33He broke away to form his own group, the Pablo Group.
00:34:42However, Pablo was an unconventional leader.
00:34:47When he was challenged by a rival silverback from within his own group, instead of fighting, Pablo took the opportunity
00:34:55to form a powerful alliance with him.
00:34:59By replacing aggression with cooperation between them, they took the group from strength to strength.
00:35:10At their peak, the Pablo Group was 65 in number, the biggest group of mountain guerrillas ever known.
00:35:38And among them was a young male who would, one day, become leader himself.
00:35:58But now, Gacirati's dominance is being challenged.
00:36:05The question is, does he fight back?
00:36:08Or can he learn to cooperate with Ubuzu?
00:36:36Despite winning the fight with Gacirati, Ubuzu is still not being acknowledged as leader by the rest of the Gacirati.
00:36:50Without the support of the dominant female, Ubuzu may never win over the group.
00:37:05Without the support of the dominant female, Ubuzu may never win over the group.
00:37:15Without the support of the former Gacirati's dominance, we have to leave the next video.
00:37:18That's all, there may be some more gains than the most recent Gacirati.
00:37:18?
00:37:19?
00:37:41But Teta's allegiance may be shifting.
00:37:50By leaving Guchirati's side and joining Obuzu,
00:37:57she's signaling her support for the younger male.
00:38:19And Guchirati steps aside.
00:38:58Obuzu is now the leader of the Pablo group.
00:39:03But this is just the beginning.
00:39:07Taking over the leadership is one thing.
00:39:12Staying on top and keeping everyone safe is another.
00:39:50There is a new arrival to the group,
00:39:54an immigrant female from the other side of the mountain.
00:40:02Inyange has left the group where she was born
00:40:05and joined the Pablo group,
00:40:07so she may start a family of her own.
00:40:13It's a difficult move, but one driven by instinct,
00:40:18and it avoids inbreeding.
00:40:23She needs to form her own relationships here,
00:40:26but she's still a stranger to the Pablo group
00:40:29and must tread carefully.
00:40:33May be the same sch Labs,
00:40:36It was a dope family.
00:40:40But she went on to the best place.
00:40:40But the Beast has been a man for her first.
00:40:40but she's been a man for the day.
00:40:45She's been a man for the first time.
00:40:51And in Sheiland,
00:40:55and she's been a man for the first time.
00:40:56And when the Beast was born,
00:41:01she was very loyal.
00:41:19Ubuozo and Gichurati are adjusting to their new relationship.
00:41:27Now that Ubuozo is in charge, he must learn to temper his aggression.
00:41:34And Gichurati must learn to respect his authority.
00:41:45It's still tense, but their body language suggests a level of cooperation may be developing.
00:41:54Which is putting the rest of the group at ease.
00:42:44As they drift in and out of consciousness...
00:42:50A powerful sense of togetherness and belonging is expressed in a chain of tender physical
00:42:57contacts.
00:43:02The intimate and unmistakable bonds of a close-knit guerrilla family.
00:43:18The younger members of the group will only rest for so long.
00:43:33Ubuozo is also stirring.
00:43:45And he's leaving his mother to explore.
00:44:02Infura is recovering from yet another beating.
00:44:20He's now lost nearly all meaningful contact with the group.
00:44:27It seems that Ubu is Infura's only remaining friend.
00:44:48But something is not right.
00:45:15Ubu's mother is close by.
00:45:34She seems to be sending a message to Infura.
00:45:37Stay away from my baby.
00:46:00Everyone is turning their back on Infura.
00:46:04Infura is over.
00:46:04Let's go.
00:46:35Inyange, the newly-arrived female,
00:46:38has been observing the group for a while now,
00:46:42especially Teto.
00:46:46As dominant female,
00:46:48this could be a very important relationship for Inyange.
00:47:04If Teto allows Inyange to be close to her family,
00:47:08it'll send a message to the rest of the group.
00:47:22And Teto seems to be welcoming her.
00:47:29Even trusting Inyange to hold her baby.
00:47:37Young females do this instinctively.
00:47:40It prepares them for motherhood.
00:47:53And Inyange's arrival is a positive sign
00:47:57for both the Pablo group and Obuzo.
00:48:05Durilu families are always looking to grow.
00:48:09There's strength in numbers.
00:48:27And Inyange has arrived at an especially good time.
00:48:34Obuzo, having taken over as leader,
00:48:37is keen to have offspring of his own.
00:48:53Obuzo, having taken over as leader of the group.
00:49:06With new females arriving,
00:49:10and, hopefully, new babies on the way,
00:49:15the group may well grow and become more powerful
00:49:18under Obuzo's leadership.
00:49:29That's what he feels like.
00:49:29What he feels like.
00:49:30Like, Baru Malik.
00:49:30He feels like men.
00:49:30He feels like they don't know about it.
00:49:32He is so comfortable.
00:49:32Do you feel like the word?
00:49:36These children as best.
00:49:36They are living with two terms.
00:49:40They are living with one.
00:49:42Kind of living with two people.
00:49:42What he's doing?
00:49:42He wants to be a child.
00:49:43You'll be a child.
00:49:43It's so much better for both of us.
00:49:51He wants to have a child.
00:49:53Infora has been excluded from group life for many months.
00:50:12He's now moving down the mountain alone.
00:50:23A war marks the limit of the guerrilla's forest.
00:50:36Infora has reached the edge of their world.
00:51:07He has crossed into the human world.
00:51:16People have lived here for thousands of years.
00:51:23And they, too, depend on the land.
00:51:26And they are found.
00:51:27I'm here.
00:51:29I'm here.
00:51:37I'm here.
00:51:47I'm here.
00:51:49I'm here.
00:52:06The relationship between humans and gorillas has always been a difficult one.
00:52:11When I was in Rwanda almost 50 years ago, poaching had pushed the gorilla population to the very brink of
00:52:18extinction.
00:52:19There were only around 250 gorillas left in the Virunga mountains.
00:52:30There might not be mountain gorillas at all had it not been for Diane Fossey.
00:52:44When poachers began killing the gorillas she had come to know and love,
00:52:51she dedicated her life to protecting them by whatever means possible.
00:53:05Even after her death, her pioneering study of gorillas continued.
00:53:13Over the years, many others were inspired to protect the gorillas
00:53:20from within Rwanda and beyond.
00:53:25And attempts to conserve them became increasingly successful.
00:53:39Today, Rwanda's gorilla population has largely recovered.
00:53:49But while their population has grown, the mountains have not.
00:54:07What does this mean for Imphura?
00:54:13And where does he go from here?
00:54:20Many gorillas are crowded into the same space.
00:54:24It's changing their behavior and their relationships with each other.
00:54:35Imphura is not welcome in the Pablo group.
00:54:41He's been up the mountain
00:54:45and all the way down.
00:54:51He's running out of options.
00:55:06He may be destined to be a lone silverback.
00:55:12The most unpredictable animals on the mountain.
00:55:23There are so many people that we are going to live in the park.
00:55:31That's not what we want to find.
00:55:32What is the most unpredictable animal?
00:55:32And is the only one that we can find?
00:55:35Is the program now?
00:55:35Well, this group of people who are not blessed,
00:55:37is the only one that we can find out.
00:55:37We work together with people who are not blessed to be there.
00:55:37I absolutely do not belong to them.
00:55:37I feel very rich.
00:55:38But I do not belong to them.
00:55:40What do we want to find a beautiful smile?
00:55:42I feel very small.
00:55:52Ubuzu is now securely on top.
00:55:58The group is stable, and it's growing.
00:56:05There are two brand new babies.
00:56:12One of which is Inyangis, Ubuzu's first offspring as leader.
00:56:25Guerrilla newborns are completely dependent on their mothers,
00:56:31and guerrilla mothers are completely devoted to their babies.
00:56:38They are inseparable for the first few months of life.
00:56:56Inyangi is a first-time mother, and understandably nervous.
00:57:11Ubuzu is keeping a close eye on her,
00:57:15and he's been doing a good job protecting her.
00:57:25But as the dominant silverback,
00:57:27Ubuzu can't only watch over Inyangi.
00:57:33There are other females who want his attention.
00:57:46These displays are an invitation to mate.
00:58:05Ubuzu accepts,
00:58:09and leaves the group unprotected.
00:58:11Unprotected.
00:58:45Unprotected.
00:58:47Unprotected.
00:58:51Unprotected.
00:58:52While Ubuzu was distracted,
00:58:55something terrible has happened.
00:59:14and Yanky's baby has been killed.
00:59:26The injuries suggest that a gorilla was responsible.
00:59:42There are lots of guns got no problem,��
00:59:45biological, not
00:59:45just — What
00:59:55is his revealed means? A
00:59:56problem saying. It
00:59:57doesn't belong to anybody, all
01:00:09of us. What
01:00:09is his reaction?
01:00:11The other females in the group surround her.
01:00:28Only Inyangi knows exactly what happened.
01:00:35And who is responsible.
01:00:43She may be a recent arrival to the group,
01:00:46but her loss seems to have affected everyone.
01:01:11Inyangi has taken herself away.
01:01:17But at least she's not alone.
01:01:24Obwuzu was the baby's father.
01:01:30But he failed to defend Inyangi and their baby.
01:01:35Inyangi
01:02:02Inyangi
01:02:04It has been four days since Inyangi's baby was killed.
01:02:12Losing an infant in this way could cause the group to lose confidence in their leader.
01:02:19And may even fracture the group.
01:02:30But for now, they're huddled around Obwuzu.
01:02:35And Inyangi is right by his side.
01:02:49Something has frightened her.
01:02:59Imphura has returned.
01:03:04Her reaction tells Obwuzu everything he needs to know.
01:03:10Imphura killed Inyangi's baby.
01:03:16And he's now a threat to everyone.
01:03:27Obwuzu attacks.
01:03:40But now Imphura is much stronger.
01:03:50Kichurasi joins in.
01:04:13Imphura gets away.
01:04:15Imphura gets away.
01:04:23But he's not gone far.
01:04:30For the last year, while he's been excluded from group life,
01:04:35he has never left it completely.
01:04:44But now, a line has been crossed.
01:04:49He has killed a member of his own family.
01:05:03The group is gathered around their leader, Obwuzu.
01:05:20And now, he is leading them on a mission.
01:05:30And now, he is leading them on a mission.
01:05:42Inshura is making his way up the mountain.
01:05:46Imphura is making his way up the mountain.
01:05:47But he's not alone.
01:05:50Obwuzu is close behind.
01:05:54With Teta and Kichurasi by his side.
01:06:11They're pushing Imphura all the way out.
01:06:15They're pushing Imphura all the way out.
01:06:36Inshura is crossing into the next valley alone.
01:06:58Perhaps he was always going to end up here.
01:07:03Or perhaps there's only so many beatings a gorilla can take.
01:07:21Impfura may now wander the mountains alone for years.
01:07:28Or maybe he will find a family of his own one day.
01:07:34Only time will tell.
01:07:36I'm not sure if he's going to die.
01:08:09There is at least one member of the group who will miss Impfura.
01:08:19Ubi is probably too young to understand the events that have unfolded here.
01:08:27But Impfura was his friend.
01:08:31And now his friend has gone.
01:08:51However, Ubi, just like little Pablo, is very adaptable.
01:08:56And he seems intent on making a new big friend.
01:09:22It's been a testing year for Ubi, but he's grown into his role as leader.
01:09:33And maybe now a friendship with Ubi is exactly what he needs in his life.
01:10:03Guitirassi is no longer in charge here.
01:10:05But he's filling a new role by supporting a younger, stronger silverback.
01:10:14He has a lot of knowledge and will be a great help to Obuzu.
01:10:21This may well be the most important role in his life.
01:10:35Teta has played a critical part in supporting the leadership transition.
01:10:42And she and her family are doing well.
01:10:49Her baby is now almost two years old.
01:10:55She is growing in strength and in character.
01:11:20And Yange has had a tough time.
01:11:23She lost her first baby, and we can only imagine that this will have a lasting impact on her.
01:11:33But she is now an established member of the Pablo group.
01:11:42And part of something that is at the very heart of guerrilla life.
01:11:53family.
01:12:04The Pablo group is not the perfect family.
01:12:09No family is.
01:12:16But they have stuck together through some very difficult times.
01:12:27And right now things are looking up for the Pablo group.
01:12:35As indeed they are for the species as a whole.
01:12:47Today there are over 600 mountain guerrillas across the Voronga Mountains.
01:12:54Their population has more than doubled since I was there almost 50 years ago.
01:13:12It's one of the greatest conservation success stories that I've witnessed.
01:13:21And perhaps that's down to the profound connection people feel towards guerrillas.
01:13:28It's a connection that has stayed with me my whole life.
01:13:37And it all began with one special little guerrilla.
01:13:47Despite a difficult start in life, Pablo grew into a strong and charismatic leader.
01:13:59He remained devoted to his family until the very end.
01:14:11This is some of the last known footage of Pablo.
01:14:17At 33 years old, while defending his group from a rival guerrilla, the great silverback was killed.
01:14:29I will never forget him.
01:14:35Or the impact he had on me.
01:14:43The words I use are, there's more meaning in exchanging a glance with a guerrilla than with any other animal
01:14:51I know.
01:14:52And I stick by that.
01:14:54I think that's true.
01:14:57Got it, tell him.
01:15:26Elon Musk
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