- 2 days ago
A Gorilla Story: Told by David Attenborough
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Short filmTranscript
00:00:21Over 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.
00:04:08I 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, you know, 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.
00:08:06And 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.
00:09:53Gichurasi.
00:09:55But Gichurasi is now well beyond his physical peak.
00:10:03Gichurasi.
00:10:04And there are others waiting in line.
00:10:11Ubuzu.
00:10:15An up-and-coming silverback.
00:10:20Very big.
00:10:23Very strong.
00:10:26An up-and-coming silverback.
00:10:26With ambitions of his own.
00:10:33Gichurasi is losing his strength.
00:10:40And Ubuzu.
00:10:42Wants to take over as leader.
00:10:51Ubuzu.
00:10:52Ubuzu.
00:10:53Ubuzu.
00:10:53Ubuzu.
00:10:53Ubuzu.
00:10:53Ubuzu.
00:10:54Ubuzu.
00:11:08But for now, the group are fixated on Teta's baby.
00:11:18Just as for us, a newborn is a source of fascination.
00:11:34But she's only a few months old, so Teta must keep her out of harm's way, especially when
00:11:43things 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 Ubuzu is not interested in playing games.
00:12:51Right now, he is focused on Gichirassi.
00:12:59He has outgrown the older male and is trying to intimidate him.
00:13:18But leading a gorilla 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.
00:13:59I mean, just one thump from his fist could crack your head over it.
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 and he was left to fend for himself.
00:14:31Without the protection of his mother, a gorilla 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.
00:15:15He watched.
00:15:17He watched.
00:15:22And 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 gorillas I met, there 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, he seems to have the same boldness and curiosity.
00:16:30But he has a special fascination with one gorilla in particular.
00:16:35That's not why.
00:16:38Here you go.
00:16:39Um, for.
00:16:40Um.
00:16:42Um.
00:16:42Um.
00:16:46Um.
00:16:47Um.
00:16:48Um.
00:16:49Um.
00:16:52Um.
00:16:53Um.
00:16:58Um.
00:16:59Um.
00:17:00Um.
00:17:02Um.
00:17:03He's on the cusp of adulthood and his back is beginning to show signs of silver.
00:17:11But his mind is still young.
00:17:30Gorillas are highly social creatures and exist in a network of different relationships
00:17:37that help shape who they are and who they will become.
00:17:48It's clear that Imphura has a playful and caring side.
00:17:55But his size and strength are new to him.
00:18:02And it hasn't gone unnoticed.
00:18:28It's clear that he doesn't have to do that.
00:18:29I'm not sure that it's not going to be fair.
00:18:30So he has to be a good friend of mine.
00:18:30You're not going to be a good friend of mine.
00:18:31And I am not sure that he's been in the same place.
00:18:31This is the same place in the same place.
00:18:32And we love it and we love it.
00:18:33And we love it and we love it.
00:18:52Imbhura has been seriously injured by Ubwuzu.
00:18:59It seems brutal, but every silverback has a violent side.
00:19:09And it's natural for Ubwuzu to try to eliminate his competition.
00:19:18But Imbhura 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.
00:20:46Ubwuzu is on the move.
00:20:49Ubwuzu is on the move.
00:20:54Many silverbacks have ruled these mountains.
00:21:00Now Ubwuzu 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.
00:22:03Gitchirassi is watching.
00:22:07But for some reason, he does not react.
00:22:20When 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.
00:22:56Despite their size, gorillas are complex and sensitive creatures.
00:23:02Each one is different with their own unique personality.
00:23:13And like us, they're shaped by all their life experiences.
00:23:17The good and the bad.
00:23:21Going into the deep end.
00:23:29On the deep end.
00:23:36Tegasit nossos coogs.
00:23:41Infora's wounds are healing.
00:23:44But he's staying away from the group.
00:23:48The Sha-Rex.
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 Imphura 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.
00:25:05Imphura can't see them.
00:25:08But he can hear them.
00:25:15And 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 Imphura.
00:25:58Imphura.
00:26:25Imphura.
00:26:26Swing out where they're going.
00:26:41Oubhuzu is looking for food with some of the family.
00:26:51The papillogroup's range is about three square miles.
00:26:59And it contains many different types of plants that make up most of their diet.
00:27:11But gorillas are opportunistic.
00:27:25And Ubuzu has stumbled across something different.
00:27:43Ants.
00:27:46But these are army ants who have powerful jaws.
00:28:02And they bite back.
00:28:03And they bite back.
00:28:33And it brings in others.
00:28:56One of the jobs of a dominant silverback is to guide the group to good feeding areas.
00:29:13And, more importantly, to bring the group together.
00:29:25Ubuzu'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.
00:30:18Ubuzu is challenging Gichirazi by moving directly towards him.
00:30:27As the group's leader, Gichirazi should see him off.
00:30:33But he does nothing.
00:30:39Teta is watching closely.
00:30:49Confrontations between silverbacks can escalate quickly.
00:30:59Ubuzu, attack.
00:31:16Silverbacks are more than twice the size of an adult man.
00:31:24They are many times stronger.
00:31:35And fights can end in death.
00:32:02Ubuzu emerges unscathed.
00:32:14But there's no sign of Gichirazi.
00:32:40Gichirazi has survived the fight.
00:32:44But he's been badly beaten.
00:32:48Dominated by the younger male in front of the whole group.
00:33:04As dominant female, Teta must show the group who she supports.
00:33:20She leaves with the older male.
00:33:23She leaves with the older male.
00:33:26And the group follows.
00:33:32After leading for five years, Gichirazi has earned their loyalty.
00:33:44Ubuntu 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.
00:34:23By the time he was 18, he was ready to lead for himself.
00:34:33He broke away to form his own group, the Pablo Group.
00:34:42However, Pablo was an unconventional leader.
00:34:46When he was challenged by a rival silverback from within his own group.
00:34:52Instead of fighting, Pablo took the opportunity to form a powerful alliance with him.
00:34:59By replacing aggression with cooperation between them,
00:35:04they took the group from strength to strength.
00:35:10At their peak, the Pablo Group was 65 in number.
00:35:14The biggest group of mountain guerrillas ever known.
00:35:38And among them was a young male who would, one day, become leader himself.
00:35:47Gichirazi.
00:35:58But now Gichirazi'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 Gichirazi,
00:36:40Ubuzu is still not being acknowledged as leader by the rest of the group.
00:36:47Or Teta.
00:36:50Without the support of the dominant female,
00:36:54Ubuzu may never win over the group.
00:37:03Oh, wait a moment.
00:37:16You could be thinking of beingidamente.
00:37:17Ugh!
00:37:25Damn!
00:37:26Oh, my God!
00:37:29A really long time!
00:37:29I do!
00:37:30Oh!
00:37:31Oh, my God!
00:37:33Oh, my God!
00:37:41But Teta's allegiance may be shifting.
00:37:50By leaving Guchirashi's side and joining Obuzu,
00:37:57she's signaling her support for the younger male.
00:38:19And Guchirashi steps aside.
00:38:49Guchirashi 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.
00:39:18Uh-huh.
00:39:50There is a new arrival to the group, an immigrant female from the other side of the mountain.
00:40:02Inyange has left the group where she was born and joined the Pablo group, so she may start
00:40:09a family of her own.
00:40:13It's a difficult move, but one driven by instinct, and it avoids inbreeding.
00:40:23She needs to form her own relationships here, but she's still a stranger to the Pablo group
00:40:31and must tread carefully.
00:40:45She's still a stranger.
00:41:19Ubuzu and Gichurati are adjusting to their new relationship.
00:41:27Now that Ubuzu is in charge, he must learn to temper his aggression.
00:41:34And Gichurati must learn to respect his authority.
00:41:44It'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.
00:42:26It's still tense, but it's still tense, but it's still tense.
00:42:44As they drift in and out of consciousness, their powerful sense of togetherness and belonging
00:42:53is expressed in a chain of tender physical contacts.
00:43:03The intimate and unmistakable bonds of a close-knit guerrilla family.
00:43:18The younger members of the group will only rest for so long.
00:43:33Ubi is also stirring.
00:43:45Ubi is also stirring.
00:43:46And 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.
00:44:28It seems that Ubi is Infura's only remaining friend.
00:44:48But something is not right.
00:45:15Ubi's mother is close by.
00:45:34She seems to be sending a message to Infura.
00:45:39Stay away from my baby.
00:46:00Everyone is turning their back on Infura.
00:46:04Infura.
00:46:35Inyangi, the newly-arrived female, has been observing the group for a while now.
00:46:42Especially Teto.
00:46:46As dominant female, this could be a very important relationship for Inyangi.
00:47:04If Teto allows Inyangi to be close to her family, it'll send a message to the rest of the group.
00:47:22And Teto seems to be welcoming her.
00:47:29Even trusting Inyangi to hold her baby.
00:47:37Young females do this instinctively.
00:47:40It prepares them for motherhood.
00:47:54Inyangi's arrival is a positive sign for both the Pablo group and Ubudu.
00:48:05And the other families are always looking to grow.
00:48:09There's strength in numbers.
00:48:27Inyangi has arrived at an especially good time.
00:48:34Ubudu, having taken over as leader, is keen to have offspring of his own.
00:49:05With new females arriving,
00:49:10and hopefully new babies on the way.
00:49:14The group may well grow and become more powerful under Ubudu's leadership.
00:49:40The group may come in and see the future of隊
00:49:53Infora has been excluded from group life for many months.
00:50:11He'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.
00:51:26. . .
00:51:29. .
00:51:31Let's go.
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 Dian Fossey.
00:52:44When poachers began killing the gorillas she had come to know and love, she dedicated her
00:52:52life 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 from within Rwanda and beyond.
00:53:25And attempts to conserve them became increasingly successful.
00:53:38Today, 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 Imfura?
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.
00:54:35Imfura is not welcome in the Pablo group.
00:54:41He's been up the mountain and all the way down.
00:54:52He's running out of options.
00:55:06He may be destined to be a lone silverback.
00:55:11The most unpredictable animals on the mountain.
00:55:15He's riding the mountain.
00:55:33He's running out ofatch, right?
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, one of which is in Yungis.
00:56:17Ubuzu's first offspring as leader.
00:56:26Guerilla newborns are completely dependent on their mothers.
00:56:30And guerilla mothers are completely devoted to their babies.
00:56:39They are inseparable for the first few months of life.
00:56:55In Yungi 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, Ubuzu can't only watch over in Yungi.
00:57:33There are other females who want his attention.
00:57:45These displays are an invitation to mate.
00:58:05Ubuzu accepts and leaves the group unprotected.
00:58:39There are other person who want his attention.
00:58:41The first time we find the images of Skiakas is unique.
00:58:41I can't read the names of the names of the names of Skiakas and Tariqa.
00:58:51While Ubuzu was distracted, something terrible has happened.
00:59:14And Yankee's baby has been killed.
00:59:27The injuries suggest that a gorilla was responsible.
01:00:12The 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.
01:02:02Inyangi
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.
01:02:59Infora has returned.
01:03:04Her reaction tells Obwuzu everything he needs to know.
01:03:09Infora killed Inyangi's baby.
01:03:15And he's now a threat to everyone.
01:03:27Obwuzu attacks.
01:03:32Obwuzu attacks.
01:03:37Obwuzu attacks.
01:03:40But now I'mfora is much stronger.
01:03:50Elasar's dadrollings.
01:03:51He joins in.
01:04:14Imphura gets away.
01:04:22But 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, Ubuzu.
01:05:20And now, he is leading them on a mission.
01:05:42IMPHura is making his way up the mountain.
01:05:46But he's not alone.
01:05:50Ubuzu is close behind,
01:05:53with Teta and Kichurasi by his side.
01:06:11They're pushing IMPHura all the way out.
01:06:15And they keep the waterÙŽÙ‘nResecond makes the storm Looks good.
01:06:15But not
01:06:33nothing to be satisfied.
01:06:36IMPHura is crossing into the next valley alone.
01:06:42They're safe.
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.
01:07:21Imbhura 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.
01:08:06Imbhura may now wander the mountains alone.
01:08:09There is at least one member of the group who will miss Imbhura.
01:08:19Ubi is probably too young to understand the events that have unfolded here.
01:08:27But Imbhura was his friend.
01:08:31And now his friend has gone.
01:08:51However, Ubi, just like little Pablo, is very adaptable.
01:08:57And he seems intent on making a new big friend.
01:09:07Ubuzu.
01:09:22It's been a testing year for Ubuzu.
01:09:26But 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.
01:10:02Gitcherisi 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 Obwuzu.
01:10:21This may well be the most important role of 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.
01:10:48Her baby is now almost two years old.
01:10:55She is growing in strength and in character.
01:11:21Inyange has had a tough time.
01:11:24She lost her first baby,
01:11:26and 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.
01:12:03Family.
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 curillas across the Virunga 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.
01:14:56I think that's true.
01:15:24In the specific
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