The Dangers of Saving Gorillas
Clip: Season 43 Episode 1 | 4m 19sVideo has Closed Captions
Conservationists put themselves at risk to habituate a notoriously protective 500-pound silverback.
Filmmaker Vianet Djenguet documents the dangerous but vital process of habituating a notoriously protective 500-pound silverback. Habituation is a last-ditch effort to save the critically endangered Eastern lowland gorillas from extinction but it does not come without risks.
Major support for NATURE is provided by The Arnhold Family in memory of Henry and Clarisse Arnhold, The Fairweather Foundation, Sue and Edgar Wachenheim III, Kate W. Cassidy Foundation, Kathy...
The Dangers of Saving Gorillas
Clip: Season 43 Episode 1 | 4m 19sVideo has Closed Captions
Filmmaker Vianet Djenguet documents the dangerous but vital process of habituating a notoriously protective 500-pound silverback. Habituation is a last-ditch effort to save the critically endangered Eastern lowland gorillas from extinction but it does not come without risks.
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Bring the beauty and wonders of wildlife and natural history into your home with classic NATURE episodes.Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship- There are actually two methods of habituating gorillas.
The first is a very submissive approach used by a female conservationist called Dian Fossey to get close to mountain gorillas for research purposes.
(speaking foreign language) But in Kahuzi-Biega, they've used a more assertive approach standing tall, facing the gorillas.
(speaking foreign language) The park's founders had a theory.
Because they were male, they had to behave in dominant fashion to win the respect of the silverback.
Obviously, I don't want him to attack me.
(speaking foreign language) But it's vital for him to get used to humans.
(gorilla ululating) (gorilla protesting) (gorilla screeching) (gorilla continues screeching) (gorilla screeching) There's a really big part of me that feel like we are harassing them.
Their droppings are diarrhea-like.
That means they are slightly stressed.
This, this is what worries me.
It's a very, very risky job, but he keeps doing it to protect these gorillas.
Meet the Silverback, the Leader of the Troop
Video has Closed Captions
Cameraman Vianet Djenguet captures the face of the forest's 500-pound silverback. (2m 16s)
Video has Closed Captions
In Congo, filmmaker Vianet Djenguet comes face to face with the forest’s largest gorilla. (30s)
Rare Gorilla Family Moment Caught on Camera
Video has Closed Captions
A mother gorilla feeds her infant within the gaze of the outsiders. (2m 19s)
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship
Major support for NATURE is provided by The Arnhold Family in memory of Henry and Clarisse Arnhold, The Fairweather Foundation, Sue and Edgar Wachenheim III, Kate W. Cassidy Foundation, Kathy...