SILVERBACK GORILLA CHARGES AT WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER
BY SALONI MATHUR
WITH VID A wildlife photographer experienced a heart-stopping moment when a massive silverback gorilla charged directly at her. The encounter was filmed by Prajwal Shetty Kaup in Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The footage shows the photographer standing near a group of gorillas when an adult male silverback suddenly fixes his gaze on her, rips a branch from the ground and charges at full speed. Just as it appears the gorilla is about to make contact, it abruptly stops only about a metre away before calmly backing off, leaving the stunned photographer unharmed. Mock charges are a common behavior among silverback gorillas when they feel the need to assert dominance or warn potential threats to keep their distance. Rather than intending to attack, the display is designed to intimidate without physical contact. Wildlife guides advise visitors to remain calm, avoid sudden movements and follow their guide's instructions if a silverback performs a mock charge, allowing the animal to de-escalate the situation on its own. Prajwal said: “Was never ready for this! “He locked eyes with me, ripped a branch straight out of the ground, and charged. “One metre away, he stopped. Mock charge, this was his way of saying ‘I’m in control here, not you.’ “Nothing prepares you for how it feels to have 200kg of silverback stop a metre from your face.”
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