0:00:02 > 0:00:06'Gorillas are one of the most powerful animals on earth.
0:00:06 > 0:00:07GROWLING
0:00:07 > 0:00:10'Capable of explosive aggression.
0:00:10 > 0:00:13'They are the real King Kong.'
0:00:13 > 0:00:15WHISPERS: That goes right through you.
0:00:15 > 0:00:18'But I want to discover their true nature.
0:00:20 > 0:00:21'Are they capable of compassion,
0:00:21 > 0:00:24'sophisticated relationships
0:00:24 > 0:00:26'and even love?'
0:00:26 > 0:00:29That is one of THE most delightful images.
0:00:29 > 0:00:32Mother and baby gorilla.
0:00:32 > 0:00:34'My name's Gordon Buchanan.
0:00:34 > 0:00:36'I'm a wildlife cameraman.
0:00:38 > 0:00:41'I'm heading deep into the heart of the Congo...
0:00:43 > 0:00:46'..to film the rare and mysterious Grauer's gorilla,
0:00:46 > 0:00:49'the largest primate on the planet.'
0:00:49 > 0:00:51HOOTING
0:00:54 > 0:00:56WHISPERS: That is seriously impressive.
0:00:57 > 0:01:00'This is one of the most dangerous places in Africa.
0:01:00 > 0:01:04'So few people have ever seen these giants.'
0:01:04 > 0:01:07It is my deep desire
0:01:07 > 0:01:11to find a family group of gorillas,
0:01:11 > 0:01:13build up some kind of relationship
0:01:13 > 0:01:18and really reveal gorilla family life like never before.
0:01:18 > 0:01:22'I'm putting myself on the front line.
0:01:22 > 0:01:23'To learn their language.
0:01:26 > 0:01:27'To try and gain their trust.
0:01:29 > 0:01:34'In the hope of revealing a new understanding of gorilla family life
0:01:34 > 0:01:37'that will transform the way we see them.'
0:01:49 > 0:01:52I have wanted to spend time with gorillas in the wild
0:01:52 > 0:01:54for as long as I can remember.
0:01:54 > 0:01:59And despite the fact that I've been a wildlife cameraman for over 25 years,
0:01:59 > 0:02:02I've been around the world a couple of times,
0:02:02 > 0:02:06I have never ever had the opportunity until now.
0:02:07 > 0:02:12'My destination is the DRC, the Democratic Republic of Congo.
0:02:12 > 0:02:14'It's a huge country.
0:02:14 > 0:02:16'Two thirds the size of Western Europe.
0:02:18 > 0:02:21'It's been plagued by civil war for decades.
0:02:21 > 0:02:25'A conflict which has claimed the lives of millions of people.
0:02:32 > 0:02:35'It's still a challenging part of the world to visit.
0:02:39 > 0:02:41'But now, with a lull in hostilities,
0:02:41 > 0:02:44'I've a chance to film these seldom-seen gorillas.
0:02:49 > 0:02:52'I'm going to the Kahuzi-Biega National Park,
0:02:52 > 0:02:56'one of the last refuges of the giant Grauer's gorilla.
0:03:01 > 0:03:03'Few people have ever filmed here.
0:03:05 > 0:03:09'But one programme from the 1970s sticks in the memory.'
0:03:10 > 0:03:14Watching this film, that's what made me want to...to see gorillas.
0:03:14 > 0:03:15It just looked so amazing.
0:03:15 > 0:03:17HOOTING
0:03:17 > 0:03:20I remember a famous scene and it stuck with me.
0:03:20 > 0:03:21GROWLING
0:03:21 > 0:03:24Oh, my goodness! Look... Oh, wow!
0:03:31 > 0:03:35That...is unbelievable.
0:03:35 > 0:03:37Look at the size of that gorilla.
0:03:39 > 0:03:42Yeah, it's quite sobering, actually, now that I'm here.
0:03:42 > 0:03:46And to contemplate that that might be
0:03:46 > 0:03:49an encounter that I have in the near future.
0:03:52 > 0:03:54'After a restless night, I'm up early.
0:03:55 > 0:03:58'With me is chief park guide, Lambert.
0:03:58 > 0:04:02'I'm trying to get some tips on gorilla communication.'
0:04:02 > 0:04:05So, when the juveniles are up and they beat their chest,
0:04:05 > 0:04:06it's not an aggressive thing?
0:04:06 > 0:04:08Not aggressive, happy to see people.
0:04:08 > 0:04:12Happy to see people. With the silverbacks, it's a low...?
0:04:12 > 0:04:13GORDON GROWLS GENTLY
0:04:16 > 0:04:19See, that kind of sounds a bit threatening,
0:04:19 > 0:04:22- but that keeps them calm?- Yes.
0:04:22 > 0:04:23OK. I'll work on that.
0:04:23 > 0:04:25GORDON GROWLS
0:04:27 > 0:04:30'Ahead of us lies miles of dense tropical forest.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35'Lambert is hoping to introduce me to a group he knows well.
0:04:35 > 0:04:38'It's led by a 30-year-old male called Chimanuka,
0:04:38 > 0:04:42'who has a fearsome reputation for defending his family.
0:04:44 > 0:04:48'After an hour, we hear the unmistakable sound of gorillas.'
0:04:48 > 0:04:50HOOTING
0:04:52 > 0:04:54'It's critical we don't expose the gorillas
0:04:54 > 0:04:57'to any infectious diseases we might be carrying.
0:04:57 > 0:04:59'Even a simple cold could prove fatal.'
0:04:59 > 0:05:01I've got this mask.
0:05:01 > 0:05:04Germs and bacteria that we can carry
0:05:04 > 0:05:07can get transferred to the gorillas, and vice versa.
0:05:07 > 0:05:11So whenever I'm with the gorillas, I always have to have this on.
0:05:11 > 0:05:14Don't want to be sneezing all over them. I'm ready.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19'Knowing a large, potentially aggressive male is nearby
0:05:19 > 0:05:22'is thrilling, but scary.
0:05:24 > 0:05:28'In this dense vegetation, I could bump into him without warning.'
0:05:30 > 0:05:32WHISPERS: Just through there. Oh, he's gone!
0:05:32 > 0:05:37Just the briefest glimpse of a huge face. It looked like a male.
0:05:38 > 0:05:43But he just took one look at me and then...moved off.
0:05:43 > 0:05:46'It looks like a younger gorilla.
0:05:46 > 0:05:49'But I want to find the rest of the family.'
0:05:53 > 0:05:55WHISPERS: Well, hello.
0:06:08 > 0:06:10I feel like I have to pinch myself,
0:06:10 > 0:06:16to be sitting this close to four or five gorillas.
0:06:19 > 0:06:21They are real. They are real.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30'There are 25 in this family.
0:06:30 > 0:06:33'And I'm soon spotting gorillas everywhere.'
0:06:37 > 0:06:39Whoa!
0:06:39 > 0:06:41GORDON CHUCKLES
0:06:46 > 0:06:50WHISPERS: You know, filming wildlife is never easy.
0:06:50 > 0:06:52CHEST-BEATING Oh!
0:06:52 > 0:06:53This is Chimanuka.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56OK, let me just... Maybe I spoke too soon.
0:06:56 > 0:07:00The big silverback just...kind of charged in.
0:07:05 > 0:07:08'Chimanuka is the biggest male in the group.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11'He's not as tall as me, but he's three times heavier
0:07:11 > 0:07:13'and several times stronger.'
0:07:13 > 0:07:17Chimanuka is the head of this family. He's a big silverback male.
0:07:17 > 0:07:22And if I am going to be working with this group, with this family,
0:07:22 > 0:07:27it's really him that is going to be the one I've got to keep happy.
0:07:27 > 0:07:30'I need to watch my step.
0:07:30 > 0:07:34'Silverbacks often react aggressively to anything they see as a threat.
0:07:34 > 0:07:36BARKING
0:07:37 > 0:07:40CHEST-BEATING
0:07:40 > 0:07:44'Barking and beating their chest is a way of issuing a warning.
0:07:44 > 0:07:47'If it's ignored, then a silverback may well charge.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50GORILLA GROWLS
0:07:50 > 0:07:54'My heart's pounding, but I've got to play it cool.
0:07:59 > 0:08:04'This parade-past is designed to intimidate me
0:08:04 > 0:08:06'by showing off his size and strength.'
0:08:06 > 0:08:13Gosh, that is...quite a threatening approach there.
0:08:15 > 0:08:16Wow!
0:08:16 > 0:08:20You get a real idea of how big Chimanuka is
0:08:20 > 0:08:23when he breaks free of all that foliage
0:08:23 > 0:08:27and you can see him in all his glory.
0:08:27 > 0:08:29He is immense.
0:08:31 > 0:08:35My heart is beating a little bit faster than it was before.
0:08:38 > 0:08:40OK, there he goes.
0:08:40 > 0:08:44OK. Chimanuka has left the building.
0:08:44 > 0:08:47And everyone's just starting to follow him.
0:08:50 > 0:08:54'As the family slips away, I'm faced with a decision.'
0:08:54 > 0:08:55Can you see him?
0:08:55 > 0:08:57'I need to spend as much time with them as I can
0:08:57 > 0:09:00'if I'm going to form a bond.'
0:09:00 > 0:09:01You see Chimanuka?
0:09:02 > 0:09:06'But push too hard and I could provoke a charge.
0:09:06 > 0:09:08'I take a risk and decide to follow them.
0:09:14 > 0:09:17'The Congo rainforests are some of the oldest in the world.
0:09:18 > 0:09:20'They are places of beauty.
0:09:23 > 0:09:26'And home to some unique species found nowhere else.
0:09:30 > 0:09:32'Including these Grauer's gorillas,
0:09:32 > 0:09:35'a seldom-seen relative of the mountain gorilla.
0:09:35 > 0:09:39'There are thought to be only a few thousand left in the wild.
0:09:41 > 0:09:45'Lambert introduces me to the newest addition to Chimanuka's family.'
0:09:52 > 0:09:54WHISPERS: Nine months old? It's tiny.
0:09:54 > 0:09:55Is it a boy or a girl?
0:09:57 > 0:09:59A little male.
0:09:59 > 0:10:02That is one of the most delightful images
0:10:02 > 0:10:04you could see anywhere in the world.
0:10:06 > 0:10:08Mother and baby gorilla.
0:10:08 > 0:10:12It's just stunning. Look at them!
0:10:23 > 0:10:27'Mwira is the youngest of Chimanuka's 18 children,
0:10:27 > 0:10:29'and the most vulnerable.
0:10:31 > 0:10:34'This is a critical stage in his development.
0:10:38 > 0:10:42'Baby gorillas often struggle to make it to their first birthday.
0:10:43 > 0:10:46'They depend on their mother's milk until they're three.
0:10:50 > 0:10:54'Gradually, baby Mwira will learn to eat forest food
0:10:54 > 0:10:58'by watching his mother and by trial and error.'
0:10:59 > 0:11:02Mwira hasn't got the technique quite right
0:11:02 > 0:11:05of stripping that peel from the vine.
0:11:05 > 0:11:08However, his mother is just a pro.
0:11:08 > 0:11:10She pulls the vine through her mouth,
0:11:10 > 0:11:14using these sharp teeth to strip it off and it all curls back
0:11:14 > 0:11:19and she's left with this big wad of curly vine peel.
0:11:19 > 0:11:21And then she starts chomping away on it.
0:11:23 > 0:11:25Of course, these things take practice.
0:11:41 > 0:11:46'It'll be 15 years before baby Mwira is the same size as his father.
0:11:46 > 0:11:49'In the meantime, it's Chimanuka's job to protect him
0:11:49 > 0:11:50'and the rest of the family.'
0:11:50 > 0:11:52WHISPERS: Whoa!
0:11:53 > 0:11:56Chimanuka's obviously wondering what's going on.
0:12:00 > 0:12:01'He's still suspicious of me,
0:12:01 > 0:12:06'so he places his 200-kilo body between us.
0:12:12 > 0:12:15'It's time to take the hint and leave the family in peace.'
0:12:31 > 0:12:36That is an incredibly promising start. That's an understatement.
0:12:36 > 0:12:39Filming wildlife, spending time observing wildlife
0:12:39 > 0:12:43in a wild situation is never easy, but...
0:12:45 > 0:12:48..dare I say it, I'm incredibly excited
0:12:48 > 0:12:53about the coming days and weeks with this family of gorillas.
0:12:53 > 0:12:55Because if I can work with them
0:12:55 > 0:12:57and I can win their trust,
0:12:57 > 0:13:03it is going to allow them to share their story with me,
0:13:03 > 0:13:06which is an incredibly exciting prospect.
0:13:11 > 0:13:14'Telling their story is one of the main reasons I'm here.
0:13:15 > 0:13:19'Grauer's gorillas have struggled during the last 20 years.
0:13:20 > 0:13:22'Successive civil wars in the DRC
0:13:22 > 0:13:25'caused a dramatic increase in poaching
0:13:25 > 0:13:28'and destruction of their forest home.
0:13:31 > 0:13:33'The park authorities hope my filming
0:13:33 > 0:13:35'will encourage more people to come here.
0:13:37 > 0:13:41'The best hope for these gorillas lies in carefully-managed tourism.
0:13:43 > 0:13:44'If people pay to see them,
0:13:44 > 0:13:48'then it should provide the necessary resources to protect them.
0:13:54 > 0:13:58'Next morning, I'm off to catch up with Chimanuka and the family.
0:14:00 > 0:14:04'Gaining his trust will take patience and determination.
0:14:08 > 0:14:10'Just finding them is a challenge.'
0:14:12 > 0:14:14It is painstaking, getting through this.
0:14:14 > 0:14:17Everything snags on every single liana.
0:14:17 > 0:14:20I trip over every single root.
0:14:20 > 0:14:25And I'm trying to do all of this quietly and...and quickly.
0:14:27 > 0:14:29It's a farce.
0:14:35 > 0:14:38'After an hour, we catch up with the family.
0:14:38 > 0:14:43'And I'm braced for more aggression from the silverback Chimanuka.'
0:14:43 > 0:14:44WHISPERS: Wow!
0:14:44 > 0:14:49'But as I focus my camera, I see something completely unexpected.'
0:14:50 > 0:14:53WHISPERS: What an enormous beast!
0:14:55 > 0:14:57Definitely a different atmosphere today.
0:14:58 > 0:15:01'Chimanuka's hanging out with one of the youngsters.
0:15:01 > 0:15:05'It reveals a completely different side to his personality.'
0:15:12 > 0:15:15Marhale? How old is Marhale?
0:15:19 > 0:15:22'In almost every other species I've filmed,
0:15:22 > 0:15:24'it's the mother who does all the parenting.
0:15:24 > 0:15:28'Looks like Grauer's gorillas might be different.'
0:15:28 > 0:15:30Father and son. Huh!
0:15:33 > 0:15:35So, where's...where's Marhale's mother?
0:15:39 > 0:15:41And so, this, um...Marhale's an orphan?
0:15:44 > 0:15:47So, how old was Marhale when he was orphaned?
0:15:49 > 0:15:50- One year?- Yes.
0:15:50 > 0:15:53- It's amazing he survived.- Yes.
0:15:56 > 0:15:58'Marhale's mother died during a fight
0:15:58 > 0:16:00'between Chimanuka and a rival silverback.
0:16:00 > 0:16:05'And he's only survived because his father looked after him.
0:16:05 > 0:16:07'Female gorillas don't adopt orphans.
0:16:08 > 0:16:10'Now the two are inseparable.'
0:16:11 > 0:16:14Yeah, he might be an orphan, he might have lost his mother,
0:16:14 > 0:16:20but his father...seems to be doing a very good job of that.
0:16:22 > 0:16:26'Chimanuka's tender touch really makes me warm to him.
0:16:30 > 0:16:33'But Marhale's story makes me worry for the future of the family.
0:16:38 > 0:16:41'The guides tell me that the rival male
0:16:41 > 0:16:44'who caused this tragedy is still a huge threat.'
0:16:46 > 0:16:47GROWLING
0:16:50 > 0:16:52WHISPERS: There was another silverback calling.
0:16:53 > 0:16:55CHEST-BEATING
0:16:55 > 0:16:57I heard it again.
0:16:57 > 0:17:01'This provocation often forces Chimanuka into a show of strength.'
0:17:01 > 0:17:06We've got this silverback chest-beating in the distance.
0:17:06 > 0:17:09What he's saying is, "I'm big, I'm strong, I'm over here".
0:17:13 > 0:17:15'Chimanuka already has a large family,
0:17:15 > 0:17:20'so he has nothing to gain and everything to lose from a fight.'
0:17:20 > 0:17:22WHISPERS: Goodness me!
0:17:28 > 0:17:30Wow!
0:17:30 > 0:17:32GORDON EXHALES
0:17:34 > 0:17:36HOOTING
0:17:36 > 0:17:40'The whole family are clearly aware of the threat.
0:17:41 > 0:17:45'Anyone could get caught in the crossfire...even me!'
0:17:47 > 0:17:49AGGRESSIVE HOOTING
0:18:06 > 0:18:09WHISPERS: That's the most severe reaction I've had from him.
0:18:09 > 0:18:11I don't like that.
0:18:14 > 0:18:16'Chimanuka has every reason to be on edge.
0:18:17 > 0:18:20'At 30, he's old for a silverback.
0:18:20 > 0:18:23'His successor might well kill his children.
0:18:26 > 0:18:28'It's a terrible prospect.
0:18:34 > 0:18:38'Time to leave the family in peace and head back to camp.
0:18:46 > 0:18:50'My instincts tell me I need to give Chimanuka and his family a break.
0:18:54 > 0:18:56'So instead, I want to meet the silverback
0:18:56 > 0:18:59'that's been threatening him, Mugaruka.
0:18:59 > 0:19:02'He's no ordinary rival.
0:19:02 > 0:19:06'The bad blood between him and Chimanuka goes very deep.'
0:19:09 > 0:19:12I'm on my way in to hopefully find a big,
0:19:12 > 0:19:14lone silverback called Mugaruka.
0:19:14 > 0:19:17Mugaruka is Chimanuka's brother.
0:19:17 > 0:19:20And despite the fact that they're brothers, they do not get along.
0:19:20 > 0:19:23Because Chimanuka took Mugaruka's entire family,
0:19:23 > 0:19:26stole all of his females.
0:19:26 > 0:19:29And he poses a big threat to our family
0:19:29 > 0:19:31because he's always going to be looking for a way
0:19:31 > 0:19:33to regain his throne, take back his family.
0:19:33 > 0:19:35And he's not far in here.
0:19:41 > 0:19:46'After several hours, Lambert and his expert trackers lead me to Mugaruka.
0:19:48 > 0:19:51'I'm quite nervous as I get close.
0:19:51 > 0:19:54'Mugaruka was responsible for the death of Marhale's mother.
0:19:54 > 0:19:56'He's unpredictable.'
0:19:59 > 0:20:02WHISPERS: He's just less than 15 metres from the path.
0:20:04 > 0:20:05Hello, Mugaruka.
0:20:09 > 0:20:12'Looking into those eyes, I know I'm dealing with
0:20:12 > 0:20:15'a very different character than Chimanuka.'
0:20:18 > 0:20:21WHISPERS: This is a big, fully-grown silverback male
0:20:21 > 0:20:24who's been ousted by his brother.
0:20:24 > 0:20:27'Mugaruka's females deserted him for Chimanuka.
0:20:27 > 0:20:31'So for the last 15 years, he's nursed a grudge.'
0:20:31 > 0:20:35WHISPERS: When you look at his face, that's what's on his mind.
0:20:35 > 0:20:37No silverback wants to be on his own.
0:20:37 > 0:20:39They want to hold on to their title,
0:20:39 > 0:20:42hold on to their family as long as possible.
0:20:44 > 0:20:47'Mugaruka wants to regain his throne.
0:20:48 > 0:20:51'Every few months, his resentment boils over.'
0:20:53 > 0:20:56WHISPERS: There's a big wound, maybe about five-inches long,
0:20:56 > 0:20:58on Mugaruka's belly, just below the ribcage.
0:20:58 > 0:21:01And that was caused in a fight with Chimanuka a couple of months ago.
0:21:08 > 0:21:10HOOTING
0:21:10 > 0:21:12That goes right through you.
0:21:13 > 0:21:16HOOTING
0:21:37 > 0:21:41It's easy to go from feeling completely relaxed and comfortable
0:21:41 > 0:21:44and nonchalant around these gorillas.
0:21:44 > 0:21:48When a gorilla comes that close, every movement that they make,
0:21:48 > 0:21:51every sound that they make, rocks you inside.
0:21:51 > 0:21:53A kind of primal fear that human beings have.
0:21:53 > 0:21:55GROWLING
0:21:55 > 0:21:57We should be scared of animals that are bigger than us.
0:22:00 > 0:22:03'Mugaruka is shadowing Chimanuka's family.
0:22:04 > 0:22:07'Having met him, I'm worried for the youngsters.
0:22:08 > 0:22:10'If he were to overthrow Chimanuka,
0:22:10 > 0:22:14'he could kill baby Mwira and the orphan, Marhale.
0:22:16 > 0:22:20'The threat from Mugaruka hangs over this family.
0:22:32 > 0:22:37'Picking up Chimanuka's track, I find he's heading deeper into the forest.
0:22:48 > 0:22:51'When I catch up with him, I'm in for a treat.
0:23:00 > 0:23:02'Chimanuka weighs over 200 kilos,
0:23:02 > 0:23:06'but that doesn't stop him from scouring the tree tops
0:23:06 > 0:23:07'for fresh fruit and vines.'
0:23:14 > 0:23:17WHISPERS: I'm finding this hard to believe,
0:23:17 > 0:23:19but Chimanuka...is up this tree.
0:23:19 > 0:23:24I just cannot believe a gorilla of that size would climb a tree.
0:23:26 > 0:23:28There's a small one here.
0:23:31 > 0:23:35'Following Chimanuka's every move is the orphan Marhale.'
0:23:38 > 0:23:41What a tough life Marhale has had.
0:23:43 > 0:23:47And that's because he was deprived of his mother's milk at one year old.
0:23:47 > 0:23:52We can only be grateful for the fact that Chimanuka is a great father.
0:23:54 > 0:23:57They're both up there in the tree. It's very sweet.
0:24:01 > 0:24:03'One of the reasons Marhale sticks close to his father
0:24:03 > 0:24:06'is that that's the only way he'll learn what to eat.'
0:24:11 > 0:24:12WHISPERS: Come on.
0:24:12 > 0:24:16'Grauer's gorillas eat a wide variety of vegetation and fruit,
0:24:16 > 0:24:19'and sometimes even insects.'
0:24:19 > 0:24:20Whoa!
0:24:20 > 0:24:23'Marhale has a lot to learn from his dad.'
0:24:24 > 0:24:27WHISPERS: Chimanuka's seen some leaves that he wants to get at
0:24:27 > 0:24:29and there's no way he could climb out on to that branch,
0:24:29 > 0:24:31it's just way too thin.
0:24:31 > 0:24:33But one way of getting to them
0:24:33 > 0:24:36is using the vines to pull the branch closer to him.
0:24:36 > 0:24:41I think he's thinking, "If I pull the vines, the branch might break
0:24:41 > 0:24:43"and the leaves will come to me."
0:24:46 > 0:24:48You were right, old boy.
0:24:49 > 0:24:51GORDON CHUCKLES
0:24:52 > 0:24:54They're pretty smart.
0:24:57 > 0:25:00'Chimanuka's role as a single dad is highly unusual.
0:25:00 > 0:25:03'Indeed, it's the only recorded case
0:25:03 > 0:25:05'of it happening with Grauer's gorillas.
0:25:05 > 0:25:08'I've got to hand it to him, he's an incredible father.
0:25:11 > 0:25:13'But if anything happens to Chimanuka,
0:25:13 > 0:25:15'Marhale will struggle to survive.
0:25:23 > 0:25:27'I want to stay close in case Mugaruka reappears.
0:25:28 > 0:25:31'So I decide to do something unprecedented.'
0:25:33 > 0:25:37WHISPERS: It is 4:45 in the evening.
0:25:37 > 0:25:42And all those daytime sounds of the forest are starting to go.
0:25:42 > 0:25:43It feels like the end of the day.
0:25:43 > 0:25:48And my plan is to spend the whole night in the forest,
0:25:48 > 0:25:51as close to the gorillas as they'll allow.
0:25:51 > 0:25:54'Few people have camped out with gorillas
0:25:54 > 0:25:57'and no-one has ever filmed them at night.'
0:25:58 > 0:26:01WHISPERS: What I want to find out is how they spend the night.
0:26:01 > 0:26:03Do some of them sleep on the ground?
0:26:03 > 0:26:05Are they going to sleep up in these trees?
0:26:09 > 0:26:11That's great. That's what I want to do.
0:26:11 > 0:26:14I want to be able to be amongst the gorillas
0:26:14 > 0:26:16and watch them behaving naturally.
0:26:22 > 0:26:25'Chimanuka's too heavy to sleep up in a tree.
0:26:25 > 0:26:28'Mwira and his mother settle close to him.
0:26:32 > 0:26:37'And, as the light fades, Marhale the orphan sidles over, too.
0:26:44 > 0:26:47'This is where they all feel safest.
0:26:50 > 0:26:53'But the rest of the family are high up in the canopy,
0:26:53 > 0:26:56'taking advantage of the supply of fresh bedding.'
0:26:58 > 0:27:01WHISPERS: The gorilla selects a nice thick tree
0:27:01 > 0:27:03and then it can use all those leaves to fold in
0:27:03 > 0:27:06and give itself a nice comfortable bed.
0:27:06 > 0:27:09It does seem that the nest-building is very much
0:27:09 > 0:27:12something you can hear, rather than something you can see.
0:27:12 > 0:27:14BRANCHES CRACK
0:27:14 > 0:27:16'To reveal what's going on in the darkness
0:27:16 > 0:27:19'requires the latest in thermal-imaging cameras.
0:27:36 > 0:27:39'The gorillas weave branches and leaves together
0:27:39 > 0:27:42'so that the nest will carry their weight.
0:27:42 > 0:27:44'They have to be pretty good at it
0:27:44 > 0:27:46'because some of the nests are way up in the trees.
0:27:53 > 0:27:55'This gorilla must be 15 metres up.
0:27:56 > 0:27:59'I hope it doesn't roll out of bed in the middle of the night.'
0:28:05 > 0:28:08WHISPERS: You know, that is the thing about these gorillas.
0:28:08 > 0:28:12So little is known about them.
0:28:12 > 0:28:15So to be here in the forest with them at this time of day,
0:28:15 > 0:28:18we are seeing something that is very, very special.
0:28:20 > 0:28:23It's amazing. Some are on the ground nesting,
0:28:23 > 0:28:25there's others up in the tree,
0:28:25 > 0:28:29but the whole family is in this radius,
0:28:29 > 0:28:32spreading out from Chimanuka.
0:28:35 > 0:28:36It kind of really makes me think
0:28:36 > 0:28:39that I should find somewhere to sleep myself.
0:28:39 > 0:28:41CRACK!
0:28:41 > 0:28:46WHISPERS: Ideally, I could snuggle up right next to Chimanuka.
0:28:47 > 0:28:48GORDON CHUCKLES
0:28:48 > 0:28:50Not going to do that.
0:28:55 > 0:28:57'I'm going to sleep out with the gorillas,
0:28:57 > 0:28:59'something few people have done.
0:28:59 > 0:29:02'I set up my bivouac a short distance away.
0:29:04 > 0:29:05'They'll still know I'm here,
0:29:05 > 0:29:07'but by giving them a little bit of space,
0:29:07 > 0:29:10'I hope it'll help them accept my presence.'
0:29:29 > 0:29:30WHISPERS: It's 5:15 in the morning.
0:29:30 > 0:29:33I can't say I've slept particularly well.
0:29:34 > 0:29:37I don't quite know how the gorillas do it.
0:29:37 > 0:29:40Lying on the ground without mosquito nets, like I was.
0:29:40 > 0:29:42There's kind of bugs crawling all over me.
0:29:42 > 0:29:45Maybe that's why they climb up into the trees.
0:29:45 > 0:29:50What I want to do is catch the gorillas before they wake up.
0:29:50 > 0:29:55Um...before they start kind of moving...moving out.
0:30:00 > 0:30:04'The family's enjoying a lie-in and seem oblivious to my presence.
0:30:06 > 0:30:09'Sleeping out with them may have won some confidence.'
0:30:09 > 0:30:11CHEST-BEATING
0:30:12 > 0:30:15WHISPERS: It's lovely. You hear all these chest-beats
0:30:15 > 0:30:18coming from little areas around the forest,
0:30:18 > 0:30:20the floor, up in the trees.
0:30:20 > 0:30:23And that's everyone's way of saying good morning.
0:30:23 > 0:30:27Letting everyone else know where they are.
0:30:28 > 0:30:30CHEST-BEATING
0:30:41 > 0:30:44'Mwira is giving his mum a hard time.
0:30:44 > 0:30:45'I expect he's hungry.
0:30:54 > 0:30:57'Breakfast seems to be on everyone's mind.'
0:31:10 > 0:31:13WHISPERS: I suppose what I'm always looking for from this family
0:31:13 > 0:31:15is...is acceptance of some sort.
0:31:15 > 0:31:19And I definitely feel that this morning,
0:31:19 > 0:31:22I've got that more than ever before.
0:31:23 > 0:31:29'That sense of approval is reinforced as Mwira's mum edges by.'
0:31:29 > 0:31:30WHISPERS: Mwira, hello.
0:31:33 > 0:31:37'Mwira's spent most of his nine months clinging to his mother.
0:31:37 > 0:31:39'Although he's now learnt to walk,
0:31:39 > 0:31:42'he'll continue hitching a ride until he's two.
0:31:50 > 0:31:52'Chimanuka's enjoying some vine peel...
0:31:54 > 0:31:56'..and Marhale's doing his best to copy.
0:31:56 > 0:32:00'He's completely dependent on Dad for his survival.
0:32:04 > 0:32:06'This father-and-son time will go a long way
0:32:06 > 0:32:09'to shaping his character.
0:32:09 > 0:32:11'And maybe one day, he, too,
0:32:11 > 0:32:14'will become a strong, but caring silverback.
0:32:18 > 0:32:21'Chimanuka's breakfast is interrupted.'
0:32:21 > 0:32:23CHEST-BEATING
0:32:23 > 0:32:27'Those chest beats aren't coming from a member of his family.'
0:32:30 > 0:32:34WHISPERS: Just been hearing chest-beats of a silverback
0:32:34 > 0:32:38and it's not Chimanuka. Chimanuka is still fairly close.
0:32:38 > 0:32:41A little bit further away, but not that far,
0:32:41 > 0:32:43is another silverback beating his chest.
0:32:45 > 0:32:47'Is it Mugaruka?'
0:32:48 > 0:32:50GENTLE HOOTING
0:32:52 > 0:32:54'Chimanuka calls his family together.
0:32:58 > 0:33:01'First to respond are the orphan Marhale,
0:33:01 > 0:33:04'and baby Mwira and his mother.
0:33:04 > 0:33:06'They're the most vulnerable if there's a fight.'
0:33:12 > 0:33:15WHISPERS: Whether they'll actually try and avoid each other,
0:33:15 > 0:33:19or whether it'll come to some kind of confrontation, who knows?
0:33:20 > 0:33:22But, yeah, when two silverbacks meet,
0:33:22 > 0:33:25it's not handshakes and a good morning.
0:33:25 > 0:33:28It always leads to aggression.
0:33:35 > 0:33:37'Chimanuka gets the family on the move,
0:33:37 > 0:33:41'but he'll have to stand up to this silverback sooner or later.
0:33:44 > 0:33:46'Although his rival hasn't broken cover,
0:33:46 > 0:33:50'Chimanuka reassures the family with a show of strength.
0:33:50 > 0:33:53AGGRESSIVE HOOTING
0:34:02 > 0:34:07'Pumped up and angry, he lashes out at us, too.
0:34:12 > 0:34:16'At least Chimanuka's display has had the desired effect.
0:34:16 > 0:34:18'There's no sound from the other silverback
0:34:18 > 0:34:21'and the family seem reassured.
0:34:22 > 0:34:26'But Mugaruka is still out there somewhere.'
0:34:28 > 0:34:31WHISPERS: Ah! How quickly the peace can change.
0:34:31 > 0:34:33GORDON EXHALES
0:34:33 > 0:34:35I just didn't know where Chimanuka was.
0:34:39 > 0:34:43'It's been an eventful and tiring few days, so I'm heading back to camp.'
0:34:57 > 0:35:00I'm about halfway through my trip.
0:35:00 > 0:35:02I've found a family that I can stay with,
0:35:02 > 0:35:05that I can track through the forest.
0:35:05 > 0:35:07But what I really want to learn about
0:35:07 > 0:35:10are the complexities of gorilla family life.
0:35:10 > 0:35:13When I think about the females, they're not bound to any family.
0:35:13 > 0:35:15They can leave whenever they want.
0:35:15 > 0:35:19If they feel that their silverback can't offer the protection they need,
0:35:19 > 0:35:21the door is open, they can go.
0:35:21 > 0:35:24So for Chimanuka, if he doesn't actually face up to this
0:35:24 > 0:35:29territorial challenge, he could lose his family, anyway.
0:35:29 > 0:35:32It doesn't have to come to some huge, epic battle
0:35:32 > 0:35:34between these kind of titans of the forest,
0:35:34 > 0:35:38If the females lose faith in him, they'll leave.
0:35:41 > 0:35:46'I'm starting to appreciate just how sophisticated Grauer's gorillas are.
0:35:46 > 0:35:48'But if I'm really going to understand them,
0:35:48 > 0:35:51'I need to make the most of my remaining days here.'
0:35:53 > 0:35:55THUNDERCLAP
0:36:16 > 0:36:19This is really quite rubbish, this weather.
0:36:19 > 0:36:23On a day like this, I'm quite glad that I'm not a gorilla.
0:36:23 > 0:36:25Um...I wonder what they're doing?
0:36:25 > 0:36:30'I want to see if there's been any fallout from yesterday's big bust-up.
0:36:30 > 0:36:32'But in this downpour, I suspect the gorillas
0:36:32 > 0:36:34'will have just hunkered down.'
0:36:34 > 0:36:37WHISPERS: It seems like the gorillas enjoy the rain as much as I do.
0:36:39 > 0:36:42It's bad enough being in a tent and getting slightly damp,
0:36:42 > 0:36:45but all these gorillas are out here in the forest
0:36:45 > 0:36:47trying to find shelter where they can
0:36:47 > 0:36:51and every one of them looks drenched to the bone.
0:36:53 > 0:36:56'Their fur is designed to keep them warm in this mountain environment,
0:36:56 > 0:36:59'but it's not very waterproof.
0:37:01 > 0:37:05'When they move, the rain seeps through to their skin.
0:37:05 > 0:37:07'It's no wonder they look so miserable.
0:37:09 > 0:37:12'Except for Chimanuka, who's on good form.'
0:37:12 > 0:37:14WHISPERS: What are you playing at?
0:37:17 > 0:37:22That's, um...showing off, I think, more than anything else.
0:37:24 > 0:37:27Just...definitely showing off.
0:37:30 > 0:37:31Big gorillas and...
0:37:33 > 0:37:36..big gorillas and small trees don't mix.
0:37:36 > 0:37:38GORDON LAUGHS
0:37:38 > 0:37:41'An adult Grauer's gorilla like Chimanuka
0:37:41 > 0:37:46'will eat around 30 kilograms of vegetation every day.
0:37:46 > 0:37:49'It's one of the reasons their bellies are so large.
0:37:49 > 0:37:53'They need big intestines to be able to digest all that plant matter.'
0:38:01 > 0:38:04WHISPERS: No more rain. Time to try and dry off.
0:38:14 > 0:38:17What gorillas do, once it's been raining, if they get very wet,
0:38:17 > 0:38:20they'll find somewhere that they can lie out in the sun
0:38:20 > 0:38:24and just spread themselves out and let their fur dry.
0:38:24 > 0:38:26And I think that's what this gorilla is doing.
0:38:26 > 0:38:30He's doing his stomach. I wonder if he's going to do his back?
0:38:32 > 0:38:34'I haven't heard any chest beats today,
0:38:34 > 0:38:38'so I suspect the other silverback has retreated.
0:38:38 > 0:38:40'Harmony has been restored.
0:38:49 > 0:38:52'Despite his responsibilities as leader,
0:38:52 > 0:38:55'Chimanuka still makes time to play with the orphan Marhale.
0:38:55 > 0:38:57'He's quite an inspiration.'
0:38:58 > 0:39:02Well, I look at Chimanuka, he's a doting father.
0:39:02 > 0:39:07And as a father myself, I can't help but empathise with him.
0:39:07 > 0:39:11Understand a lot of what... what motivates him.
0:39:12 > 0:39:16Like me, he cares a great deal about his children.
0:39:17 > 0:39:20And it's something... quite something to watch.
0:39:20 > 0:39:25You know, to see a huge animal be so nurturing and tender
0:39:25 > 0:39:29and caring for the tiniest of his children.
0:39:31 > 0:39:35And in many ways, I kind of aspire to be more like him.
0:39:37 > 0:39:39I just...I love that this...
0:39:39 > 0:39:41GORDON CHUCKLES
0:39:41 > 0:39:45..enormous...scary animal
0:39:45 > 0:39:48has got a very, very soft centre.
0:39:52 > 0:39:56'I just hope that Chimanuka's big heart isn't his Achilles heel.
0:40:05 > 0:40:09'Mugaruka's sure to take advantage of any weakness he detects.'
0:40:11 > 0:40:12WHISPERS: Oh, yeah, there he is.
0:40:12 > 0:40:16'The park guides have spotted him in one of the local tea plantations.'
0:40:20 > 0:40:22It just shows you how confident he is,
0:40:22 > 0:40:26that he's in full view of 10 people, he doesn't care.
0:40:30 > 0:40:32'The locals give him a wide berth.
0:40:33 > 0:40:35'And frankly, I can understand why.'
0:40:42 > 0:40:44WHISPERS: They have a savage side to them.
0:40:46 > 0:40:51There's a violence in gorillas that's a necessity.
0:40:51 > 0:40:56To make it as a silverback,
0:40:56 > 0:40:59you have to at times be violent,
0:40:59 > 0:41:01you have to be prepared to fight.
0:41:01 > 0:41:03At times, you have to be prepared to kill.
0:41:09 > 0:41:13'Calm though he appears, Mugaruka is a gorilla on a mission.
0:41:13 > 0:41:17'And he doesn't take kindly to people who get in his way.'
0:41:17 > 0:41:21GRUNTING
0:41:21 > 0:41:24AGGRESSIVE HOOTING
0:41:29 > 0:41:32'With a brooding Mugaruka on the warpath,
0:41:32 > 0:41:35'I'm keen to check on Chimanuka and the family.
0:41:41 > 0:41:45'They've left the forest and are camping out in a swamp.'
0:41:50 > 0:41:52WHISPERS: I'm stuck. Come on!
0:41:54 > 0:41:57'I'm sure the gorillas are getting wet feet, too.'
0:41:59 > 0:42:01WHISPERS: Here she is.
0:42:01 > 0:42:05'Although there does seem to be someone who's doing just fine.'
0:42:05 > 0:42:10WHISPERS: Look at Mwira. There isn't a wet hair on his body.
0:42:13 > 0:42:17That's because he's spending the entire time on his mother's back.
0:42:19 > 0:42:23Look at the state of my boots. Maybe that's a good way forward.
0:42:26 > 0:42:29'The swamp has a plentiful supply of delicious reeds to munch on,
0:42:29 > 0:42:32'but that's not the only benefit to being here.'
0:42:37 > 0:42:38WHISPERS: We've got Mwira,
0:42:38 > 0:42:41who looks as if he's made an escape from his mum.
0:42:44 > 0:42:48'The soft mat of vegetation makes it like a kid's playground.'
0:42:50 > 0:42:52GENTLE HOOTING
0:42:54 > 0:42:56GORDON CHUCKLES
0:42:56 > 0:43:02WHISPERS: I love it when Mwira leaves his mother.
0:43:02 > 0:43:04Look, he's climbing up in the tree.
0:43:06 > 0:43:09'This is a perfect place for a young gorilla
0:43:09 > 0:43:11'to test out his climbing skills.'
0:43:13 > 0:43:15WHISPERS: We've got one of the juveniles here
0:43:15 > 0:43:21and then in the background, there you go...Mwira.
0:43:21 > 0:43:25You'll find that this infant
0:43:25 > 0:43:29is never more than a few metres' away from his mum.
0:43:29 > 0:43:33And at the moment, three metres away, up a tree.
0:43:33 > 0:43:36That's scary stuff for a baby gorilla.
0:43:38 > 0:43:41Oh, there he goes. Oh, back down.
0:43:50 > 0:43:53'Mwira's not the only youngster enjoying this playground.
0:44:15 > 0:44:19'My focus on the youngest seems to have put Chimanuka on edge.'
0:44:19 > 0:44:22WHISPERS: Here he comes.
0:44:23 > 0:44:26'He knows that Mwira and Marhale
0:44:26 > 0:44:29'are the most vulnerable members of the family.
0:44:29 > 0:44:33'It's quite touching that he's so protective of them.
0:44:33 > 0:44:36'I just wish he'd stop viewing me as a threat.'
0:44:36 > 0:44:40WHISPERS: In a situation like this, when Chimanuka's feeling nervous,
0:44:40 > 0:44:44he's even more likely to stay close to the gorillas
0:44:44 > 0:44:46that really need the most security.
0:44:46 > 0:44:48And that is the youngest.
0:44:51 > 0:44:54'The orphan Marhale and baby Mwira
0:44:54 > 0:44:56'are the family members most at risk
0:44:56 > 0:44:59'if Chimanuka were deposed by another silverback.
0:45:06 > 0:45:09'Driven on by his desire to avoid a confrontation,
0:45:09 > 0:45:12'Chimanuka's covered a lot of ground in the last few days.
0:45:14 > 0:45:16'But his route is leading the family towards
0:45:16 > 0:45:20'another source of danger, a road.
0:45:28 > 0:45:33'It might look like just a dirt track, but this is a major highway.
0:45:34 > 0:45:38'And it's a formidable obstacle to Chimanuka's progress.'
0:45:41 > 0:45:47Chimanuka and his family are just less than 20 metres off the road,
0:45:47 > 0:45:48and he wants to cross.
0:45:48 > 0:45:50The trouble is, this road is...is...
0:45:50 > 0:45:53it might just be a track, but it's very busy.
0:46:01 > 0:46:05You've got park vehicles coming through, you've got
0:46:05 > 0:46:08trucks loaded up with charcoal.
0:46:08 > 0:46:13And that's why Chimanuka is just so tense about crossing the road.
0:46:13 > 0:46:14If it was just him, it'd be fine.
0:46:15 > 0:46:18So he's just waiting nervously
0:46:18 > 0:46:21for a quiet time to cross with his whole family.
0:46:23 > 0:46:25I feel for him.
0:46:28 > 0:46:32'After 20 minutes, we take matters into our own hands
0:46:32 > 0:46:34'and Lambert stops the traffic.'
0:46:36 > 0:46:38WHISPERS: Look at this! Oh, my gosh!
0:46:41 > 0:46:45Now, there you go, that's confidence for you.
0:46:45 > 0:46:47'With Chimanuka in charge,
0:46:47 > 0:46:51'the orphan Marhale is confident enough to venture out.'
0:46:51 > 0:46:54WHISPERS: Whoa! Oh, fantastic!
0:46:57 > 0:46:59Oh, my gosh, look at this!
0:46:59 > 0:47:01The whole family!
0:47:01 > 0:47:05'Mwira and his mother are almost the last ones to break cover
0:47:05 > 0:47:07'and scamper over.'
0:47:07 > 0:47:09WHISPERS: Absolute confidence. Look!
0:47:11 > 0:47:13'With all the youngsters across safely,
0:47:13 > 0:47:17'Chimanuka can stop being the lollipop man.'
0:47:19 > 0:47:24The boss, showing...us
0:47:24 > 0:47:28that despite there's a road running through,
0:47:28 > 0:47:31this is still his jungle. Huh!
0:47:35 > 0:47:37I love it!
0:47:49 > 0:47:53'It's a great relief to see the whole family across the road in safety.
0:47:57 > 0:48:01'And their reward is a feast of fresh fruit.'
0:48:08 > 0:48:13WHISPERS: So every gorilla, from the oldest down to the very youngest,
0:48:13 > 0:48:15is up there in the tree, feeding.
0:48:19 > 0:48:22'It's a measure of Chimanuka's phenomenal memory
0:48:22 > 0:48:25'that he's been able to navigate his way here
0:48:25 > 0:48:28'just as the fruit is ripening.'
0:48:30 > 0:48:32WHISPERS: It's so nice to see them all together.
0:48:34 > 0:48:37'This area is more densely forested
0:48:37 > 0:48:39'than the sections we've been in before.
0:48:39 > 0:48:43'It's criss-crossed with gorilla trails.
0:48:43 > 0:48:46'So there are clearly other families around.
0:48:48 > 0:48:52'And Mugaruka's arrival just adds to the numbers.'
0:48:57 > 0:48:59WHISPERS: Here he comes.
0:48:59 > 0:49:03Oh, my word! Right down on to the road.
0:49:14 > 0:49:16Amazing. He didn't even...
0:49:16 > 0:49:19I thought maybe he'd stop, be a bit reluctant,
0:49:19 > 0:49:22but across he came, metres from me.
0:49:24 > 0:49:27To see him out in the open like this,
0:49:27 > 0:49:30you see how big he is. Amazing!
0:49:32 > 0:49:35'But Mugaruka seems to have abandoned Chimanuka's trail.
0:49:35 > 0:49:39'Instead, he veers off towards the park boundary.'
0:49:41 > 0:49:43WHISPERS: I think he's gone.
0:49:45 > 0:49:47'But for how long?'
0:49:51 > 0:49:53GORDON WHISTLES A TUNE
0:50:03 > 0:50:06'I've been following the family for over two weeks now.
0:50:06 > 0:50:09'I wonder if Chimanuka's starting to warm to me?'
0:50:14 > 0:50:18WHISPERS: I haven't been this close to Chimanuka for a few days.
0:50:19 > 0:50:22'He's more relaxed than I've ever seen him.
0:50:23 > 0:50:27'He doesn't even bother with his usual intimidating walk-past.'
0:50:30 > 0:50:33WHISPERS: It just looked like Chimanuka made a decision.
0:50:33 > 0:50:37"I'm really tired." And he rolled over, head down.
0:50:38 > 0:50:41I think that might be a sign that he's going to have a nap.
0:50:43 > 0:50:46'It feels like I've finally gained Chimanuka's trust.
0:50:53 > 0:50:56'And that seems to give the rest of the family permission
0:50:56 > 0:50:58'to come and check me out.
0:51:01 > 0:51:04'But in my haste to take full advantage of the situation,
0:51:04 > 0:51:06'I make a schoolboy error.'
0:51:06 > 0:51:07WHISPERS: That's mine, pal.
0:51:09 > 0:51:11No, no, no, no.
0:51:12 > 0:51:14Don't even think about it.
0:51:14 > 0:51:16'I've been here long enough that my backpack
0:51:16 > 0:51:20'shouldn't be carrying any foreign germs, but this isn't ideal.'
0:51:42 > 0:51:45WHISPERS: There's a procession coming through to check out my bag.
0:51:45 > 0:51:47GORDON CHUCKLES
0:51:53 > 0:51:58OK, that's the number one rule of the jungle.
0:51:58 > 0:52:01Never take off your backpack.
0:52:05 > 0:52:07Hey, fella.
0:52:08 > 0:52:11'The gorillas soon forget about my bag.
0:52:11 > 0:52:15'But at last, I've made an impression.
0:52:17 > 0:52:21'After nearly three weeks, I seem to have been accepted by the family.'
0:52:23 > 0:52:25WHISPERS: It's an incredible moment.
0:52:28 > 0:52:31I started off at the edge of the group, as an outsider looking in.
0:52:31 > 0:52:35And we've got Chimanuka up there, a couple down there.
0:52:35 > 0:52:40I feel I'm right at the centre of this gorilla family.
0:52:40 > 0:52:43Which is exactly where I want to be.
0:52:55 > 0:52:56'I'm so pleased.
0:52:56 > 0:53:00'With a couple of days left, I've achieved my goal.
0:53:00 > 0:53:04'To integrate myself into a gorilla family.
0:53:04 > 0:53:06'And even they seem keen to celebrate.
0:53:17 > 0:53:19'Seeing Chimanuka with the orphan Marhale
0:53:19 > 0:53:22'snuggled up for comfort is very moving.
0:53:22 > 0:53:25'And offers a real insight into gorilla family life.'
0:53:28 > 0:53:33What fascinates me is the role the father plays in gorilla society.
0:53:33 > 0:53:35The role that Chimanuka plays in his family.
0:53:35 > 0:53:38There are so many different animals, they get together,
0:53:38 > 0:53:41some just get together to mate and the father's never seen again.
0:53:41 > 0:53:46But for Chimanuka, this is a lifelong commitment.
0:53:46 > 0:53:51That you have your family and every waking moment of every single day
0:53:51 > 0:53:54is about looking after that family.
0:53:54 > 0:53:57'That's been the biggest surprise for me.
0:53:57 > 0:54:00'Just how important fathers are in the social world of gorillas.'
0:54:02 > 0:54:05As a gorilla, you've got to be big, you've got to be strong,
0:54:05 > 0:54:07you've got to be intelligent,
0:54:07 > 0:54:10but you've got to be charismatic, as well.
0:54:10 > 0:54:12Because none of those females,
0:54:12 > 0:54:16none of Chimanuka's wives are kind of handcuffed.
0:54:16 > 0:54:19They can leave at any time that they want.
0:54:19 > 0:54:22He has to kind of conduct himself
0:54:22 > 0:54:24in a way that they want to stay with him.
0:54:24 > 0:54:27That they know that he is just the best gorilla
0:54:27 > 0:54:29in the whole darned forest.
0:54:29 > 0:54:32'And this is something the youngsters of the family
0:54:32 > 0:54:34'take full advantage of.
0:54:35 > 0:54:39'But being king of this forest means you can never really relax.
0:54:43 > 0:54:45'It's early morning.
0:54:45 > 0:54:47'Lambert and I are out looking for the family.
0:54:49 > 0:54:51'We are in for a shock.'
0:54:56 > 0:54:59WHISPERS: Oh, it's Mugaruka? OK.
0:54:59 > 0:55:04OK. The fact that he is here very, very close
0:55:04 > 0:55:08could well mean that he's kind of trying to just look for an in...
0:55:08 > 0:55:10HOOTING
0:55:10 > 0:55:12..trying to figure out if there's any kind of weakness
0:55:12 > 0:55:14in Chimanuka's defences.
0:55:14 > 0:55:17CHEST-BEATING
0:55:17 > 0:55:22'I can hear Chimanuka chest-beating, but it's not putting Mugaruka off.'
0:55:22 > 0:55:24CHEST-BEATING
0:55:27 > 0:55:30WHISPERS: It's quite a tense time, to kind of just imagine
0:55:30 > 0:55:34what's going on in the minds of these two silverback gorillas.
0:55:34 > 0:55:38I think if Chimanuka was to show any sign of weakness, to show any fear,
0:55:38 > 0:55:42that would maybe kind of... would embolden Mugaruka.
0:55:42 > 0:55:46So it's kind of a standoff between these two giants.
0:55:54 > 0:55:56'With Mugaruka close on his tail,
0:55:56 > 0:56:00'Chimanuka keeps the family moving.
0:56:00 > 0:56:03'And it becomes more and more difficult to keep track of them.
0:56:11 > 0:56:12'I've given the rangers a camera
0:56:12 > 0:56:15'to make sure that we don't miss anything.'
0:56:18 > 0:56:20CHEST-BEATING
0:56:20 > 0:56:22AGGRESSIVE HOOTING
0:56:34 > 0:56:36'Having circled each other for some time,
0:56:36 > 0:56:40'Chimanuka and Mugaruka are now metres apart.'
0:56:41 > 0:56:44AGGRESSIVE HOOTING
0:56:47 > 0:56:52'This is a clear threat to Chimanuka and his family.'
0:56:52 > 0:56:54CHEST-BEATING
0:56:54 > 0:56:56AGGRESSIVE HOOTING
0:57:00 > 0:57:03CHEST-BEATING
0:57:03 > 0:57:05GROWLING
0:57:07 > 0:57:10ROARING
0:57:10 > 0:57:12CHEST-BEATING
0:57:12 > 0:57:15FRANTIC HOOTING
0:57:27 > 0:57:31'It looks like Chimanuka has seen off Mugaruka.
0:57:31 > 0:57:33'But at what cost?'
0:57:33 > 0:57:35HOOTING
0:57:39 > 0:57:41'The family have scattered.
0:57:44 > 0:57:47'Chimanuka has been injured.
0:57:47 > 0:57:50'And it'll be some time before the full repercussions become apparent.
0:57:54 > 0:57:59'I won't see my gorilla family for another couple of months.
0:57:59 > 0:58:03'Will Chimanuka be overthrown and lose everything?
0:58:06 > 0:58:08'The fate of orphan Marhale,
0:58:08 > 0:58:10'baby Mwira
0:58:10 > 0:58:13'and the whole family hangs in the balance.'