Dr. Jan Ramer of Gorilla Doctors checks on baby Igitangaza, who’s hand was severely wounded by a lone silverback. She is a member of Ugenda group in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. The Gorilla Doctors are dedicated to saving the lives of the critically-endangered mountain and Grauer’s gorillas of Rwanda, Uganda, and DRC through health care. Our international team of veterinarians is the only group providing these animals with direct, hands-on care in the wild. www.gorilladoctors.org
Video Rating: 5 / 5
Trekking endangered mountain gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda. Sept. 2011. Also chimpanzee treks in Uganda. There are only about 320 of these gorillas left in the wild. Gorillas in the zoos are lowland gorillas. No mountain gorillas are found in zoos.A silverback was following his babies and then stopped suddenly, we didn’t know why, then we saw— a potty break! The SOUNDS on the chimp treks are amazing. Scary at first.
These are gorillas of the Susa group. This is the same group that was studied by Dianne Fossey before her death in 1985 (as described in the movie “Gorillas in the Mist”). One of the older females, Poppy, is still alive and part of the group. The group is the largest that it is possible to visit, with 39 members, and also very unusually has a total of four silverbacks. However, it’s also the most remote among the habituated groups in Rwanda; it’s an hour drive out of town to the slopes of Mt. Karisimbi where they live, and typically a 3-hour hike to reach them. They’re usually found above 3000 m altitude, which makes it a strenuous climb. Overall, mountain gorillas are extremely endangered; the 2011 worldwide population estimate is 790 individuals. They only live in southern Uganda, northern Rwanda and eastern Congo (in a single mountain range where these three countries meet). These gorillas are habituated to humans, meaning they’ve been repeatedly exposed to rangers so that they aren’t threatened when people come. However, they’re still wild animals.

Who knew Silver-back Gorilla’s were such good divers. I give them all 10′s on technique.
Wild African gorillas are hunted down and slaughtered for their meat with devastating results. Caution! Some images in this clip are of a disturbing nature. See All National Geographic Videos video.nationalgeographic.com
Video Rating: 4 / 5
Highlights of silverback gorilla Ndume’s birthday: from discovering the decorations in his outdoor habitat, to eating delectable hidden treats, to opening a stash of presents, Ndume’s birthday was quite a treat, thanks to the loving care of his caregivers, and the affectionate oversight of his companion Koko.