0:00:02 > 0:00:05Gorillas - the largest primate on the planet.
0:00:07 > 0:00:09They can be explosively aggressive.
0:00:09 > 0:00:13BARKING AND HOOTING
0:00:13 > 0:00:15That goes right through you.
0:00:15 > 0:00:20'But I want to discover if they're also capable of compassion...'
0:00:20 > 0:00:21Wow!
0:00:23 > 0:00:25'..sophisticated relationships...
0:00:27 > 0:00:29'..and even love.'
0:00:29 > 0:00:31Quite something to watch
0:00:31 > 0:00:32a huge animal be so tender
0:00:32 > 0:00:36and caring for the tiniest of his children.
0:00:38 > 0:00:43'My name is Gordon Buchanan. I'm a wildlife cameraman.'
0:00:43 > 0:00:46It is my deep desire to reveal
0:00:46 > 0:00:51gorilla family life like never before.
0:00:51 > 0:00:54'Three months ago, I travelled to the Congo to try and gain
0:00:54 > 0:00:59'the trust of a family of the biggest gorillas of all, Grauer's gorillas.'
0:00:59 > 0:01:02He is immense.
0:01:02 > 0:01:07'I developed a deep respect for the dominant silverback, Chimanuka.'
0:01:07 > 0:01:12My heart is beating a little bit faster than it was before.
0:01:12 > 0:01:18'And I fell in love with two of his young sons. The baby, Mwira.'
0:01:18 > 0:01:22We've got Mwira, who looks as if he's made an escape from his mum.
0:01:23 > 0:01:25'And orphan Marhale,
0:01:25 > 0:01:29'whose mother had died during a fight between Chimanuka and a rival male.'
0:01:29 > 0:01:31How old was Marhale when he was orphaned?
0:01:31 > 0:01:34- One year and five months.- One year!
0:01:36 > 0:01:40'When I was last here, the family was in crisis.
0:01:40 > 0:01:44'Chimanuka's rival had returned, intent on taking over.
0:01:45 > 0:01:49'The two babies' lives hung in the balance.'
0:01:49 > 0:01:52GORILLAS BARKING AND GRUNTING
0:01:56 > 0:02:00'Now I'm back to see if the family has survived
0:02:00 > 0:02:04'and to try to help these special gorillas.
0:02:16 > 0:02:20'Home for my gorilla family is this forest, close to the
0:02:20 > 0:02:26'eastern border of the DRC, the Democratic Republic of Congo.
0:02:26 > 0:02:29'It's part of the Kahuzi-Biega National Park,
0:02:29 > 0:02:33'one of the last refuges for the rare and endangered Grauer's gorilla.
0:02:38 > 0:02:41'I've returned to find out what's happened to my family
0:02:41 > 0:02:44'since I was here ten weeks ago.
0:02:44 > 0:02:48'I'm desperate to find Chimanuka and his two sons,
0:02:48 > 0:02:51'so the trackers lead me into the forest.
0:03:07 > 0:03:12'After an hour, there are signs we're getting close.'
0:03:12 > 0:03:15I don't think they're far ahead of us now.
0:03:15 > 0:03:18There's some dung just here.
0:03:18 > 0:03:22It looks very fresh, so it means the gorillas aren't far away.
0:03:22 > 0:03:24The excitement is building.
0:03:28 > 0:03:30'But I can't just rush in.'
0:03:35 > 0:03:38As soon as I get this close to any of the gorillas,
0:03:38 > 0:03:40I have to put on my facemask.
0:03:42 > 0:03:45'This will protect the gorillas from any colds or infections
0:03:45 > 0:03:46'I might be carrying.'
0:03:51 > 0:03:53GORILLAS HOOT
0:03:53 > 0:03:55'I can hear the gorillas but I can't see them.'
0:04:02 > 0:04:04Oh, my word. Look at this!
0:04:07 > 0:04:09Here they are.
0:04:12 > 0:04:17Never in my wildest dreams did I expect to see
0:04:17 > 0:04:22a fully-grown silverback at the top of a 100ft tree.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28'It's Chimanuka, alive and well.'
0:04:30 > 0:04:32That is seriously impressive,
0:04:32 > 0:04:36an enormous gorilla at the top of an enormous tree.
0:04:38 > 0:04:42'Chimanuka's clearly recovered from the bust up with his rival.'
0:04:43 > 0:04:45How many have we got?
0:04:45 > 0:04:48We've got one, two, three, four, five,
0:04:48 > 0:04:51five gorillas that I can see in this one tree.
0:04:55 > 0:04:57I thought that was Mwira there
0:04:57 > 0:04:59but I don't think it is,
0:04:59 > 0:05:01it's one of the other infants.
0:05:01 > 0:05:05'Worryingly, I can't see either baby Mwira or the orphan Marhale.'
0:05:07 > 0:05:10The time that I was away there was three gorillas that
0:05:10 > 0:05:12I kind of thought of a lot, Chimanuka was one of them.
0:05:12 > 0:05:16But also Mwira, who's the smallest and youngest gorilla in the family
0:05:16 > 0:05:21and then Marhale, who was the orphaned gorilla
0:05:21 > 0:05:23that Chimanuka had taken under his wing.
0:05:24 > 0:05:26So, now that I can see Chimanuka,
0:05:26 > 0:05:28I want to find those two other gorillas.
0:05:31 > 0:05:35'Last time I saw him, baby Mwira was just nine months old.
0:05:37 > 0:05:39'Chimanuka was very protective of him,
0:05:39 > 0:05:43'often shielding his young son from my attention.'
0:05:47 > 0:05:50In a situation like this when Chimanuka's feeling nervous,
0:05:50 > 0:05:53he's even more likely to stay close to the gorillas that probably
0:05:53 > 0:05:59need the most security, and that is the youngest.
0:05:59 > 0:06:03'Chimanuka also showed a touching devotion for the orphan Marhale.'
0:06:05 > 0:06:11This enormous, scary animal, has got a very, very soft centre.
0:06:11 > 0:06:13He cares a great deal about his children.
0:06:15 > 0:06:18'Marhale's mother had died during a fight between Chimanuka
0:06:18 > 0:06:20'and his rival.
0:06:22 > 0:06:24'Since then, Marhale has relied
0:06:24 > 0:06:27'solely on the care of his father to survive.
0:06:35 > 0:06:39'Now that I'm back, I'm keen to check that Mwira and Marhale are OK.
0:06:41 > 0:06:46'But before I can look for them, Chimanuka comes looking for me.
0:06:48 > 0:06:51'He hasn't seen me for a couple of months,
0:06:51 > 0:06:54'so I'm not surprised that he's wary.'
0:06:58 > 0:07:01LOW GROWL
0:07:01 > 0:07:02He's on his feet now.
0:07:03 > 0:07:05Oh, my goodness.
0:07:10 > 0:07:12Hey, fella.
0:07:13 > 0:07:15I get the point.
0:07:15 > 0:07:17I get your message.
0:07:18 > 0:07:21This is your forest.
0:07:24 > 0:07:27That is seriously wonderful.
0:07:36 > 0:07:38Oh, my God.
0:07:40 > 0:07:42Oh, my gosh.
0:07:44 > 0:07:45LOW GROWL
0:07:47 > 0:07:50HE LAUGHS
0:07:50 > 0:07:53Oh, gosh.
0:07:53 > 0:07:57Um, I think when a gorilla does that
0:07:57 > 0:07:59it's just the most intimidating animal encounter
0:07:59 > 0:08:01you could ever have.
0:08:01 > 0:08:09And I think it's just his way of telling me that he's the boss.
0:08:09 > 0:08:13This is his forest, he is king
0:08:13 > 0:08:14and don't forget that.
0:08:20 > 0:08:24Being with the gorillas is magical,
0:08:24 > 0:08:28but you kind of have to go through hell to get those magic moments.
0:08:32 > 0:08:36'Grauer's gorillas are related to the neighbouring mountain gorillas.
0:08:40 > 0:08:41'As their name implies,
0:08:41 > 0:08:47'they live in the mountainous areas where DRC, Rwanda and Uganda meet.
0:08:49 > 0:08:53'But gorillas like Chimanuka live at a lower altitude,
0:08:53 > 0:08:56'which is why they are less hairy.
0:08:57 > 0:09:00'There is also much less known about them.
0:09:00 > 0:09:02'That's because the DRC has been
0:09:02 > 0:09:05'embroiled in conflict for the last two decades,
0:09:05 > 0:09:09'so few outsiders have ever seen these gorillas.
0:09:12 > 0:09:16'Chimanuka's family are the only Grauer's gorillas that are currently
0:09:16 > 0:09:22'habituated to humans, making them the only ones you can get close to.
0:09:22 > 0:09:25'That's why the of fate baby Mwira
0:09:25 > 0:09:28'and the orphan Marhale is so important.'
0:09:28 > 0:09:31This is a part of Chimanuka's range that I haven't actually
0:09:31 > 0:09:39seen him in before and I really hope that when I get in I can find Mwira.
0:09:44 > 0:09:47OK, this is a different ball game.
0:09:48 > 0:09:52WATER RUNS
0:09:52 > 0:09:55'We track Chimanuka and the others to a stream.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00'The gorillas aren't after the water,
0:10:00 > 0:10:03'they get all the moisture that they need from their food.
0:10:03 > 0:10:05'It's the rich foliage that's drawn
0:10:05 > 0:10:08'these gigantic vegetarians to this spot.
0:10:10 > 0:10:12'A silverback like Chimanuka will
0:10:12 > 0:10:15'eat around 30 kilos of greenery every day.
0:10:17 > 0:10:20'It's a diet that has rather predictable effects.'
0:10:20 > 0:10:24HE BREAKS WIND
0:10:30 > 0:10:34HE BREAKS WIND
0:10:37 > 0:10:41'Surrounded by fresh vegetation if not by fresh air,
0:10:41 > 0:10:44'I'm hoping the family will stay here long enough for me to find
0:10:44 > 0:10:47'orphan Marhale and baby Mwira.'
0:10:47 > 0:10:51This is exactly how I wanted to find the family.
0:10:52 > 0:10:55Chimanuka's just down the slope from me.
0:10:56 > 0:10:58If I get a look at him,
0:10:58 > 0:11:02it may well be that Mwira is close by to him.
0:11:08 > 0:11:11They've got... Hang on, who's this coming up?
0:11:12 > 0:11:13Ah, there you go!
0:11:15 > 0:11:16There he is.
0:11:20 > 0:11:23I couldn't quite see if that was Mwira's mum.
0:11:25 > 0:11:31And then up into shot comes the little man himself.
0:11:31 > 0:11:33Oh, that's great!
0:11:33 > 0:11:35I am so happy to see him.
0:11:37 > 0:11:39Looking great. Looking a bit bigger.
0:11:39 > 0:11:43Approaching his first birthday is magnificent.
0:11:46 > 0:11:50It's the one thing that is unchanging in the forest,
0:11:50 > 0:11:52and that's his mother's devotion.
0:11:52 > 0:11:56She's always there for him to just reach out and grab onto.
0:11:59 > 0:12:00He's lovely.
0:12:03 > 0:12:06'I've found one of Chimanuka's young sons,
0:12:06 > 0:12:10'but I've not yet seen Marhale, the orphan.
0:12:12 > 0:12:16'There seems little hope of spotting him in the gathering gloom.'
0:12:20 > 0:12:24We've lost the light, the sun's set, and ordinarily I'd head back to camp,
0:12:24 > 0:12:26but I've got a thermal imaging camera with me.
0:12:26 > 0:12:31That's going to allow me to be able to film long into the night
0:12:31 > 0:12:34and hopefully give me a chance of seeing Marhale.
0:12:41 > 0:12:45'The park has granted me special permission to film here at night
0:12:45 > 0:12:47'so I've brought the latest, military grade,
0:12:47 > 0:12:51'thermal imaging camera to make the most of this unique opportunity.'
0:12:58 > 0:13:00It is pitch-black.
0:13:00 > 0:13:03With my naked eye, I can see nothing,
0:13:03 > 0:13:05absolutely nothing without light.
0:13:05 > 0:13:10But this camera should, I'm hoping,
0:13:10 > 0:13:13be able to tell me where the gorillas are.
0:13:16 > 0:13:20'Grauer's gorillas often nest up in trees and it doesn't take me
0:13:20 > 0:13:23'long to find some of the family bedding down for the night.'
0:13:26 > 0:13:29We've got a gorilla here that's not quite asleep.
0:13:29 > 0:13:33I can tell because its eyes are wide open.
0:13:33 > 0:13:38The big, light spot that the thermal camera can see, that's its eye.
0:13:38 > 0:13:42Yeah, it's maybe about six, seven metres off the ground.
0:13:45 > 0:13:47OK. I'm just going to have a look round and see
0:13:47 > 0:13:49if I can see anyone else.
0:13:49 > 0:13:50That's a...
0:13:51 > 0:13:54Oh, look, there's another gorilla up there.
0:13:56 > 0:13:58I could just see the big heat source.
0:13:58 > 0:14:02I couldn't quite make sense of it so I zoomed in to see this huge foot.
0:14:02 > 0:14:03So it's a gorilla lying flat on its back.
0:14:05 > 0:14:09'Neither of these gorillas is the one I'm looking for.
0:14:09 > 0:14:13'If Marhale's here, he might be near Chimanuka.
0:14:13 > 0:14:17'I need to refocus my search on the forest floor,
0:14:17 > 0:14:20'because Chimanuka's too big to sleep in the trees.'
0:14:20 > 0:14:23I can see some heat coming from an area
0:14:23 > 0:14:25just about 20 metres in front of me.
0:14:25 > 0:14:26So I just see who it is.
0:14:38 > 0:14:39I know who that is.
0:14:43 > 0:14:47'That distinctive shape can only be Chimanuka
0:14:47 > 0:14:51'and nestling beside him is a welcome sight.'
0:14:53 > 0:14:59Right beside Chimanuka, it's Marhale, on his back.
0:15:01 > 0:15:06I absolutely love the relationship between these two gorillas.
0:15:06 > 0:15:10Because Marhale doesn't have a mother,
0:15:10 > 0:15:14but still needs that protection that Chimanuka's taken
0:15:14 > 0:15:19it on himself to be, be the one not just to keep him safe
0:15:19 > 0:15:23but to keep him warm, to keep him happy.
0:15:23 > 0:15:26And what a job he's doing.
0:15:27 > 0:15:28I love it.
0:15:28 > 0:15:32'It's a huge relief to find Marhale alive and well.
0:15:32 > 0:15:35'I can finally relax and get my head down.'
0:15:53 > 0:15:55Home sweet home.
0:15:56 > 0:15:59'I've spent many nights camped out in the wild
0:15:59 > 0:16:03'so I'm not worried about sleeping close to a family of gorillas.
0:16:03 > 0:16:05'But there are other concerns.'
0:16:07 > 0:16:10As always, the biggest danger comes from people.
0:16:12 > 0:16:17There are poachers in this forest so I've got a couple of trackers
0:16:17 > 0:16:19just a few yards behind me.
0:16:19 > 0:16:23So yes, it's nice to have the added security of
0:16:23 > 0:16:26knowing that if I scream,
0:16:26 > 0:16:29I've got help at hand, not that far away.
0:16:48 > 0:16:50'It's been a quiet night,
0:16:50 > 0:16:53'and with dawn, the forest comes alive.'
0:17:01 > 0:17:04You often think of the prize or the reward as being the gorillas
0:17:04 > 0:17:09themselves but actually sometimes it's just the gorillas' home,
0:17:09 > 0:17:12the forest, it is absolutely stunning.
0:17:15 > 0:17:19'This morning, I want to take a closer look at baby Mwira,
0:17:19 > 0:17:23'to discover how much he's developed in the time I've been away.
0:17:32 > 0:17:37'But the first gorilla to catch my eye isn't the baby, it's his dad.'
0:17:41 > 0:17:43It's an incredible sight.
0:17:43 > 0:17:48Chimanuka weighs probably more than three times my weight,
0:17:48 > 0:17:52and he's sitting on a branch that is no thicker than my arm.
0:17:54 > 0:17:57'These gorillas have a bigger territorial range
0:17:57 > 0:17:59'than their mountain gorilla cousins.
0:17:59 > 0:18:02'They also spend more time in the trees,
0:18:02 > 0:18:07'which means their range extends upwards as well as outwards.'
0:18:07 > 0:18:11In forests like this, they're just constantly searching for food.
0:18:11 > 0:18:14The fact that they climb trees so frequently
0:18:14 > 0:18:17goes to show that a lot of their food is right up there.
0:18:22 > 0:18:26'However, tree-top dining doesn't always go to plan.'
0:18:33 > 0:18:35HE LAUGHS
0:18:38 > 0:18:39I've missed them.
0:18:56 > 0:18:59'Mwira is more confident in exploring the world around him.'
0:19:03 > 0:19:04I think he's grown.
0:19:16 > 0:19:20'He's further away from his mother than I've seen him go before.'
0:19:24 > 0:19:26You know, for a baby gorilla,
0:19:26 > 0:19:29every single day is a day of learning.
0:19:29 > 0:19:33Every tree, every vine is slightly different.
0:19:42 > 0:19:46'His knowledge of the vegetation has also improved.
0:19:46 > 0:19:50'He used to just stuff everything in his mouth, but not any more.'
0:19:51 > 0:19:56It's very funny to watch him taking the leaves. He's very selective.
0:19:56 > 0:19:58It's like somebody in the supermarket,
0:19:58 > 0:20:01just testing fruit and vegetables, it's just like take that one,
0:20:01 > 0:20:05take that one, take that one. OK. Jam it in the mouth.
0:20:09 > 0:20:12'Mwira's developing just as he should be,
0:20:12 > 0:20:16'under the watchful gaze of his mum.
0:20:16 > 0:20:19'It'll be another couple of years before he's completely weaned.
0:20:19 > 0:20:22'By which stage, he'll be spending a lot of time with his dad.
0:20:27 > 0:20:32'For now, Chimanuka is lavishing his attention on orphan Marhale,
0:20:32 > 0:20:36'for whom he must be both father and mother.'
0:20:36 > 0:20:38Chimanuka right in front of me.
0:20:41 > 0:20:45It really is lovely to find Marhale still with his dad.
0:20:52 > 0:20:57It's amazing just to see Chimanuka delicately groom Marhale's foot.
0:20:57 > 0:21:01It's a really lovely, intimate moment.
0:21:03 > 0:21:08But I think watching gorillas like this is such a privilege
0:21:08 > 0:21:11because you just get this little insight into their world,
0:21:11 > 0:21:14into gorilla family life, and that's why I've come here.
0:21:14 > 0:21:17It's not simply about seeing a gorilla,
0:21:17 > 0:21:19it's about trying to understand them.
0:21:19 > 0:21:22And when you have moments like this,
0:21:22 > 0:21:24an interaction between two gorillas,
0:21:24 > 0:21:26it really is special.
0:21:35 > 0:21:39'It's great to see my gorilla family doing so well and Chimanuka
0:21:39 > 0:21:43'seems to have accepted my presence more quickly than before.
0:21:46 > 0:21:50'However, on my way back to camp, I make a chilling discovery.'
0:21:50 > 0:21:54Right here, a very fresh poacher's fire.
0:21:54 > 0:22:01It's impossible to police an entire park and poachers can come in,
0:22:01 > 0:22:06set snares, light fires and kind of be here largely undetected.
0:22:06 > 0:22:11It's a huge worry that there are these fresh signs of poaching
0:22:11 > 0:22:14activity in an area where there are gorillas.
0:22:16 > 0:22:20'It's been estimated that as many as 300 gorillas may be lost
0:22:20 > 0:22:23'to poaching in the Congo every year.
0:22:24 > 0:22:28'Many are killed for bush meat, but young gorillas are often captured
0:22:28 > 0:22:33'alive and then sold illegally as pets or to disreputable zoos.
0:22:36 > 0:22:40'A baby like Mwira could be worth as much as £30,000
0:22:40 > 0:22:42'on the black-market.
0:22:42 > 0:22:46'The implications for my family are horrible.'
0:22:48 > 0:22:53I can't spend time with them and not worry about the future.
0:22:53 > 0:22:57And when I see the problems that they face,
0:22:57 > 0:23:00I'm just greatly worried by that.
0:23:00 > 0:23:02I really fear for their future.
0:23:04 > 0:23:09'It takes years to get gorillas used to humans,
0:23:09 > 0:23:13'which makes Chimanuka's family almost irreplaceable.
0:23:13 > 0:23:17'Unfortunately, their ease with people makes them
0:23:17 > 0:23:19'more vulnerable to poachers.
0:23:22 > 0:23:26'To better understand the threats facing Chimanuka's family
0:23:26 > 0:23:28'I'm taking to the skies.
0:23:28 > 0:23:33'Up here you can truly appreciate how two worlds collide.'
0:23:37 > 0:23:39So this wall of green,
0:23:39 > 0:23:43which is the park boundary very obviously.
0:23:43 > 0:23:48It is a green island surrounded by this ocean of humanity.
0:23:48 > 0:23:52And you see that the gorillas living down there,
0:23:52 > 0:23:54they can't roam far and wide.
0:23:56 > 0:24:01It's basically...their world ends in a single line
0:24:01 > 0:24:05and human problems enter the park,
0:24:05 > 0:24:07that's the real danger.
0:24:08 > 0:24:12'It's only a few years since this part of the world was caught up
0:24:12 > 0:24:17'in civil war, a conflict that cost millions of lives.
0:24:18 > 0:24:22'The resultant glut of weapons and the presence of armed groups
0:24:22 > 0:24:26'present the park staff with significant challenges.'
0:24:26 > 0:24:28I think it's amazing really,
0:24:28 > 0:24:32when you think about what DRC has gone through as a country.
0:24:32 > 0:24:35I think it's a miracle that actually
0:24:35 > 0:24:37anything wild has managed to persist.
0:24:37 > 0:24:41But the hope for the future is that there are people
0:24:41 > 0:24:44that are putting their lives on the line, to protect what's left.
0:24:49 > 0:24:54'I'm on my way to rendezvous with park director, Radar Nishuli.
0:24:54 > 0:24:58'I want to find out what's been done to protect Chimanuka
0:24:58 > 0:25:00'and other gorillas from the threat of poachers
0:25:00 > 0:25:04'and armed groups sheltering in their forest.'
0:25:04 > 0:25:05What's the plan?
0:25:05 > 0:25:09Are we going to go into an area where there's issues with poachers?
0:25:09 > 0:25:11IN FRENCH:
0:25:34 > 0:25:35OK.
0:25:35 > 0:25:38All ready.
0:25:38 > 0:25:39OK.
0:25:47 > 0:25:50'Over the last decade, hundreds of park rangers have been killed
0:25:50 > 0:25:53'working to protect the wildlife in the DRC.
0:25:55 > 0:26:00'Everybody on this patrol is risking their life.'
0:26:00 > 0:26:02INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER
0:26:14 > 0:26:18So the basic rules of this patrol are really just be vigilant,
0:26:18 > 0:26:21look for any signs of human activity,
0:26:21 > 0:26:24for fires, looking out for snares.
0:26:41 > 0:26:44'We soon detect signs of trouble.'
0:26:48 > 0:26:51CHOPPING NOISES AHEAD
0:26:53 > 0:26:55THEY WHISPER
0:26:58 > 0:27:00SOFTLY: We can hear some cutting up ahead.
0:27:00 > 0:27:02Just going to see if we can get closer.
0:27:02 > 0:27:05We don't know if it's one person or if it's a group of people.
0:27:14 > 0:27:18'We're following a new trail that's been hacked through the forest.'
0:27:21 > 0:27:24You can see here it's been cut,
0:27:24 > 0:27:27it's been cut, it's quite clearly a machete cut,
0:27:27 > 0:27:29and it's really quite fresh.
0:27:31 > 0:27:34This is 100% a man-made trail.
0:27:47 > 0:27:49'The machete noises ahead stop.
0:27:51 > 0:27:55'We edge forward, straining to hear any sign of human activity.
0:27:58 > 0:28:02'But there's only silence.
0:28:02 > 0:28:05'Our quarry seems to have melted into the forest.
0:28:10 > 0:28:14'We do come across debris from the recent conflicts.
0:28:14 > 0:28:16'It's the sort of resource that
0:28:16 > 0:28:19'poachers use for their grisly activities.'
0:28:19 > 0:28:23Yeah, this aircraft came down during the war and you can see how
0:28:23 > 0:28:27easy it would be just to take a single piece of wire like this.
0:28:27 > 0:28:30It just makes a very effective snare.
0:28:30 > 0:28:33Any gorilla that triggered it just gets stuck.
0:28:35 > 0:28:38And the harder you pull, the tighter the snare gets.
0:28:38 > 0:28:42You know, very quickly it'll cut off circulation to fingers,
0:28:42 > 0:28:46to wrists, to feet.
0:28:47 > 0:28:49A horrible, horrible, horrible fate.
0:28:57 > 0:29:00'We might not have caught any poachers,
0:29:00 > 0:29:04'but Radar knows that these patrols are having a positive effect,
0:29:04 > 0:29:08'both for the gorillas and the future of the park.'
0:29:08 > 0:29:10IN FRENCH:
0:29:21 > 0:29:25And do you think that the park is ready for visitors
0:29:25 > 0:29:27to come from around the world?
0:29:27 > 0:29:29IN FRENCH:
0:29:54 > 0:29:58'This is still a challenging part of the world to visit,
0:29:58 > 0:30:01'but the situation is getting better
0:30:01 > 0:30:04'and if the park can increase their income from tourists
0:30:04 > 0:30:07'the benefits could be enormous.
0:30:10 > 0:30:12'Gorilla safaris in Rwanda and Uganda
0:30:12 > 0:30:16'have had a considerable economic impact.
0:30:16 > 0:30:22'In Rwanda, more than 20,000 people visit National Parks every year,
0:30:22 > 0:30:27'helping to contribute over £130 million to their economy.
0:30:31 > 0:30:34'If that could be repeated here in the DRC,
0:30:34 > 0:30:37'the proceeds could be transforming.
0:30:39 > 0:30:43'By providing a real incentive to protect the forest
0:30:43 > 0:30:47'and its wildlife, poaching could be significantly reduced.
0:30:48 > 0:30:53'It's a vision that requires peace and stability, but that's not all.'
0:30:54 > 0:30:57The problem is that there is just one group of gorillas
0:30:57 > 0:31:01that's comfortable with human beings, and that's Chimanuka's family.
0:31:01 > 0:31:03And for these gorillas to be studied,
0:31:03 > 0:31:06for there to be a future for eco-tourism,
0:31:06 > 0:31:09sensible eco-tourism here, there has to be more than one group.
0:31:09 > 0:31:14So how I would like to help is to find a potential family
0:31:14 > 0:31:18that can be worked with and see if I can contribute in that way,
0:31:18 > 0:31:21and get these gorillas accustomed to human presence.
0:31:24 > 0:31:28'To do that, I'm joining a team of highly trained park trackers,
0:31:28 > 0:31:33'who have left their families behind to undertake a very special mission.'
0:31:33 > 0:31:34Bonjour, bonjour.
0:31:35 > 0:31:37'Their leader is Robert.'
0:31:37 > 0:31:38Hello. How are you?
0:31:38 > 0:31:41- Good, good. How are you? - Happy to see you.- Hello.
0:31:41 > 0:31:46'Robert first started coming to look at the gorillas as a schoolboy.
0:31:46 > 0:31:51'Now, 35 years later, his hand-picked team are tasked with
0:31:51 > 0:31:54'habituating a new family of gorillas.
0:31:54 > 0:31:57'They've been camping out, tracking the family,
0:31:57 > 0:31:59'filming them,
0:31:59 > 0:32:03'and slowly gaining the trust of the dominant silverback, Mpungwe.'
0:32:05 > 0:32:08So why did you choose this family of gorillas?
0:32:21 > 0:32:24- Did you pick your own team? - Yeah, yeah, yeah.
0:32:41 > 0:32:45'It can take years to habituate a wild family of gorillas.
0:32:45 > 0:32:48'This team are just nine months into their mission
0:32:48 > 0:32:51'and they've made great progress.
0:32:51 > 0:32:54'But they've reached a critical stage.
0:32:54 > 0:32:56'Mpungwe is used to Robert's team,
0:32:56 > 0:32:59'but if they're going to be able to get tourists to see him,
0:32:59 > 0:33:02'he's going to have to get used to pale faces too, which is
0:33:02 > 0:33:07'where my delicate Scottish complexion comes into its own.'
0:33:07 > 0:33:10I think the real crunch is really how these gorillas are going
0:33:10 > 0:33:12to react to me when they see me.
0:33:14 > 0:33:18White face, grey hair,
0:33:18 > 0:33:21tall, lanky, ungainly.
0:33:24 > 0:33:26Hopefully, we'll find out.
0:33:30 > 0:33:33'Getting Mpungwe's family used to faces like mine
0:33:33 > 0:33:37'could help secure the future of all the Grauer's gorillas here.
0:33:39 > 0:33:44'It's immediately clear that approaching Mpungwe is a very
0:33:44 > 0:33:47'different proposition from going to see Chimanuka.'
0:33:50 > 0:33:54I can just hear the silverback up ahead, beating his chest.
0:33:58 > 0:34:01Yeah, yeah. Do you think that this group is more likely to charge?
0:34:06 > 0:34:07OK.
0:34:09 > 0:34:11GORILLA BARKS
0:34:15 > 0:34:19'Uncertain of our intentions, Mpungwe is sending a signal,
0:34:19 > 0:34:26'he's saying, "I'm big and tough, don't mess with me."'
0:34:27 > 0:34:29THUMPING AND BARKING
0:34:29 > 0:34:32When you hear that noise, it just really rocks you to the core.
0:34:37 > 0:34:40'The barks mean Mpungwe is nervous.
0:34:40 > 0:34:43'Push too much and I could provoke a charge.
0:34:47 > 0:34:49'But if I back off,
0:34:49 > 0:34:51'it will defeat the purpose of me being here.
0:34:53 > 0:34:56'It's a fine line to tread.'
0:34:56 > 0:34:57This is a different ball game.
0:34:57 > 0:34:59It certainly is.
0:35:01 > 0:35:04At times it feels like I'm hunting for Bigfoot.
0:35:04 > 0:35:09You're just seeing shadows and glimpses, nothing conclusive.
0:35:12 > 0:35:15'Having kept his distance for half an hour,
0:35:15 > 0:35:18'Mpungwe decides enough is enough.'
0:35:18 > 0:35:19BARKS
0:35:19 > 0:35:21Ohh, yeah, yeah, yeah.
0:35:21 > 0:35:22I can see him.
0:35:23 > 0:35:25BARKING
0:35:25 > 0:35:28That's one gorilla that's not very happy to see me.
0:35:28 > 0:35:33What he says goes and what he's saying at the moment is,
0:35:33 > 0:35:37"I don't like the look of that pale blue guy."
0:35:40 > 0:35:46'Although he's used to Robert's team, Mpungwe is clearly uneasy.
0:35:46 > 0:35:49'Whether it's because of my appearance,
0:35:49 > 0:35:53'or that he thinks I'm a poacher, he remains hostile.
0:35:54 > 0:35:57'The subsequent days follow a familiar pattern.'
0:35:57 > 0:35:59BARKING AND ROARING
0:35:59 > 0:36:02That doesn't sound like play.
0:36:05 > 0:36:07Sounds like someone's in a bad mood.
0:36:13 > 0:36:16'Mpungwe grants me the odd glimpse.'
0:36:16 > 0:36:21This silverback is constantly keeping an eye on me.
0:36:21 > 0:36:26Every time he sees me, he just moves further away.
0:36:30 > 0:36:34'But generally, he either avoids me...'
0:36:34 > 0:36:37He's moving about quite erratically today.
0:36:37 > 0:36:40He is definitely agitated.
0:36:40 > 0:36:43'..or charges, before disappearing.'
0:36:45 > 0:36:49HE GRUNTS AND BARKS
0:36:57 > 0:37:02Trying to get close to Mpungwe is the toughest challenge so far.
0:37:02 > 0:37:04It's soul destroying when you finish your day
0:37:04 > 0:37:06without anything more than a glimpse.
0:37:06 > 0:37:11And actually, I didn't feel safe at all, I was terrified of him.
0:37:11 > 0:37:14And the thought of actually having to do it all again tomorrow,
0:37:14 > 0:37:18I'm just thinking, "Gosh, is this kind of... Is this wise?"
0:37:26 > 0:37:30'We've decided to take a break from habituating Mpungwe.
0:37:30 > 0:37:35'It could defuse some of the tension that's inevitably built up.
0:37:35 > 0:37:39'Instead I'm heading back to see Chimanuka and his family.
0:37:42 > 0:37:44'I've been asked to carry out an experiment
0:37:44 > 0:37:46'by a gorilla scientist in the UK.'
0:37:48 > 0:37:52So I've got this trail camera with the sensor and the camera here,
0:37:52 > 0:37:54and I could put this in the forest and I'm absolutely sure,
0:37:54 > 0:37:57if it's part way in their range they're going to find it,
0:37:57 > 0:37:59they're going to be interested in it.
0:37:59 > 0:38:03But what I really want to know is how they'll to react to this
0:38:03 > 0:38:06little modification, putting a mirror on the front of it.
0:38:06 > 0:38:12I kind of want to know whether gorillas are self-aware enough
0:38:12 > 0:38:14to recognise their own reflection.
0:38:17 > 0:38:22'Chimpanzees, bonobos and orang-utans have all demonstrated some
0:38:22 > 0:38:25'degree of self-recognition when confronted with a mirror.
0:38:31 > 0:38:34'Captive gorillas have also shown the same ability,
0:38:34 > 0:38:38'although their natural inclination is to avoid looking
0:38:38 > 0:38:42'an unfamiliar gorilla in the eye, so the results aren't obvious.
0:38:42 > 0:38:46'But no-one has carried out this experiment with
0:38:46 > 0:38:48'Grauer's gorillas in the wild.'
0:38:49 > 0:38:51Will they see this and run a mile?
0:38:51 > 0:38:54Will they see this and want to investigate it?
0:38:54 > 0:38:57What will they make of it? That's what I want to find out.
0:39:01 > 0:39:03'I've disinfected everything to
0:39:03 > 0:39:05'ensure there's no health risk to the gorillas.
0:39:05 > 0:39:10'And the mirror is Perspex, so it can't shatter if handled.'
0:39:10 > 0:39:11OK.
0:39:13 > 0:39:16There's a cluster of gorillas down there,
0:39:16 > 0:39:19and it may well be they might come up this slope.
0:39:19 > 0:39:22So I'm just going to see if I can install it down there.
0:39:34 > 0:39:38'The mirror quickly attracts the attention of two young gorillas.'
0:39:45 > 0:39:46Oh gosh. Straightaway.
0:39:46 > 0:39:49One of the juveniles has come straight up to it,
0:39:49 > 0:39:51not a worry in the world.
0:39:54 > 0:39:57'Some animals are surprised when they see their own reflection
0:39:57 > 0:40:01'and react aggressively, so it's interesting to see that these
0:40:01 > 0:40:05'gorillas are so calm and inquisitive.'
0:40:11 > 0:40:15There's absolutely no fear and this will be the very,
0:40:15 > 0:40:19very first time that any of these gorillas have actually
0:40:19 > 0:40:23looked into a mirror and seen a proper reflection of themselves.
0:40:30 > 0:40:34It's almost as if they're more interested in how it feels,
0:40:34 > 0:40:36rather than how it looks.
0:40:40 > 0:40:43It really shows how gentle they are.
0:40:43 > 0:40:45It's not like they're seeing this thing
0:40:45 > 0:40:48and they want to rip it apart and break it.
0:40:48 > 0:40:53They're just exploring it really delicately, smelling it,
0:40:53 > 0:40:55touching it, looking into it.
0:40:57 > 0:41:00'There's no indication that these juveniles are making
0:41:00 > 0:41:04'the connection between themselves and the image in the mirror.
0:41:04 > 0:41:09'Even human children take a while to recognise their own reflection.
0:41:09 > 0:41:12'So maybe it's just a matter of time.'
0:41:12 > 0:41:16Several members of the family are aware that there's something unusual,
0:41:16 > 0:41:18there's something interesting.
0:41:18 > 0:41:22And it's only two of them that are curious enough
0:41:22 > 0:41:24to come and check it out.
0:41:25 > 0:41:27I don't know quite why that is.
0:41:27 > 0:41:29They're both youngsters
0:41:29 > 0:41:33and maybe you lose your curiosity as you get older, if you're a gorilla.
0:41:40 > 0:41:43'Baby Mwira is intrigued too.'
0:42:11 > 0:42:12OK.
0:42:12 > 0:42:16It looks like Mwira was interested but Mwinga wasn't letting him play
0:42:16 > 0:42:18with the new thing in the forest.
0:42:26 > 0:42:27Playtime's over.
0:42:34 > 0:42:38'It's been fascinating, but I suspect it would take a lot more exposure
0:42:38 > 0:42:42'to the mirror before the gorillas show signs of self-recognition.
0:42:44 > 0:42:48'While I'd love to continue the experiment,
0:42:48 > 0:42:51'I have unfinished business with Mpungwe and his family.
0:42:55 > 0:42:58'Getting them used to faces like mine is crucial
0:42:58 > 0:43:03'if the park is going to be able to boost income from tourists.
0:43:03 > 0:43:07'That could help secure the future for baby Mwira, Marhale
0:43:07 > 0:43:10'and all the gorillas that depend on the park's protection.'
0:43:11 > 0:43:14MEN SINGING
0:43:25 > 0:43:29'Robert and his team are in a good mood when I catch up with them.
0:43:29 > 0:43:33'They haven't been deterred by Mpungwe's obvious fear of me.'
0:43:47 > 0:43:49THEY LAUGH
0:43:50 > 0:43:53'Robert's optimism is infectious.
0:43:53 > 0:43:55'But having survived the terrible war here,
0:43:55 > 0:43:59'when trackers and gorillas were caught up in the hostilities,
0:43:59 > 0:44:03'these current problems must seem trivial.'
0:44:03 > 0:44:06So, during the war, did you keep working?
0:44:29 > 0:44:31And so how many gorillas were
0:44:31 > 0:44:32killed during the war?
0:44:32 > 0:44:34Really?
0:44:34 > 0:44:37So how do you see the future for Kahuzi-Biega National Park
0:44:37 > 0:44:39and the gorillas that live here?
0:45:02 > 0:45:03'It's inspiring stuff.
0:45:05 > 0:45:08'It brings home just how important my contribution could be
0:45:08 > 0:45:11'to safeguarding the future of all the gorillas here.'
0:45:30 > 0:45:34'I've a spring in my step as we head off to find Mpungwe.
0:45:36 > 0:45:41'After a short trek, we come across one of his females.'
0:45:41 > 0:45:42Wow.
0:45:45 > 0:45:49'Remarkably, she's completely at ease with my presence.'
0:45:49 > 0:45:51(She's very relaxed.)
0:45:52 > 0:45:55Yeah, really?
0:45:55 > 0:45:57Do you know how long she's been in this group?
0:45:57 > 0:45:59Or when did she leave Chimanuka?
0:45:59 > 0:46:00- A year ago?- Yes.
0:46:02 > 0:46:04That's very interesting.
0:46:04 > 0:46:08This female, Mpungwe stole from Chimanuka,
0:46:08 > 0:46:10so she's well used to seeing people.
0:46:12 > 0:46:16'Silverbacks can only hold on to their females by convincing them
0:46:16 > 0:46:20'that their best interests are served by staying in the family.
0:46:21 > 0:46:25'If a female loses confidence in the dominant male, then they're
0:46:25 > 0:46:30'susceptible to being stolen, or tempted away by a rival silverback.'
0:46:33 > 0:46:37Mpungwe is a stronger, a younger gorilla than Chimanuka
0:46:37 > 0:46:41and the fact that he's already stolen three females from him
0:46:41 > 0:46:45just goes to show that Chimanuka is the underdog.
0:46:45 > 0:46:48If anyone's running scared it's Chimanuka.
0:46:53 > 0:46:57'The fact that some of this family are already used to people
0:46:57 > 0:47:00'should make our task easier.
0:47:00 > 0:47:04'But for now, Mpungwe is still wary.'
0:47:09 > 0:47:13It's kind of a battle of wills, it's just every time he moves away,
0:47:13 > 0:47:16I'll try and catch up with him again.
0:47:17 > 0:47:22But he's not acting aggressively which greatly relieves me.
0:47:26 > 0:47:30'It's the first time I've been able to get so close to Mpungwe
0:47:30 > 0:47:33'without him barking, which is really encouraging.
0:47:35 > 0:47:39'That sense of optimism increases as we emerge from the forest
0:47:39 > 0:47:41'into the expanse of a swamp.'
0:47:45 > 0:47:47He's just looking straight at me.
0:47:47 > 0:47:50This is the perfect situation.
0:47:51 > 0:47:53It's nice and open here.
0:47:53 > 0:47:56He's about maybe 20 metres away and he can see me very clearly,
0:47:56 > 0:47:59he can see my face, he can see that I'm different.
0:48:00 > 0:48:02It's exactly what we need.
0:48:02 > 0:48:04This is our moment.
0:48:08 > 0:48:10'Free of the claustrophobic forest,
0:48:10 > 0:48:13'other members of the family are visible too.
0:48:13 > 0:48:17'There are 18 in total, including four babies.'
0:48:20 > 0:48:24It's great that he's broken cover with one of his females
0:48:24 > 0:48:28and a tiny baby, maybe smaller than Mwira.
0:48:30 > 0:48:34And that is nice to see, you know, not just him, not just shapes
0:48:34 > 0:48:38in the forest, but actually to build up a picture of this family.
0:48:38 > 0:48:42It's not just one big, scary silverback.
0:48:43 > 0:48:44He's a family man.
0:48:54 > 0:48:59'It's a wonderful moment, but our breakthrough comes to an abrupt end.'
0:49:01 > 0:49:05Chest-beating. Just over there.
0:49:05 > 0:49:07'Mpungwe is quick to react.'
0:49:10 > 0:49:13HOOTING AND GRUNTING
0:49:15 > 0:49:16That is very interesting.
0:49:16 > 0:49:21Mpungwe is actually going up pushing this silverback out of his area.
0:49:21 > 0:49:27And this kind of chest-beating is about letting him know,
0:49:27 > 0:49:29"Don't come here, you're not welcome."
0:49:32 > 0:49:34'My hopes of a sustained period
0:49:34 > 0:49:38'getting Mpungwe used to my white face have gone.
0:49:39 > 0:49:42'At least for today.
0:49:42 > 0:49:47'However, it's been a significant step forward in his habituation.'
0:49:47 > 0:49:51When I come back next time, he's going to see me,
0:49:51 > 0:49:53he's going to recognise me
0:49:53 > 0:49:56and he's going to think, "That wasn't too bad.
0:49:56 > 0:49:58"He wasn't that scary."
0:50:07 > 0:50:11'The next day, we track Mpungwe to a dense part of the forest.
0:50:14 > 0:50:19'Previously, he would have used this thick vegetation to avoid us.'
0:50:21 > 0:50:24He's here, he's right in front of us.
0:50:24 > 0:50:28'But today, he remains just where he is.'
0:50:38 > 0:50:42For me, it's not about getting glorious shots.
0:50:42 > 0:50:46It's just about getting Mpungwe used to seeing foreigners.
0:50:53 > 0:50:54HE LAUGHS SOFTLY
0:50:54 > 0:50:57We're having a proper stare off here.
0:50:57 > 0:50:58He's barely taken his eyes off me.
0:51:05 > 0:51:07I'm very pleased with that.
0:51:07 > 0:51:12I would never, ever have expected that I could sit here for this
0:51:12 > 0:51:17length of time, just face-to-face with a truly wild silverback.
0:51:19 > 0:51:22'This is fantastic.
0:51:22 > 0:51:26'Mpungwe's acceptance of my presence reassures
0:51:26 > 0:51:28'the rest of his family too.
0:51:28 > 0:51:32'And soon I spot several other gorillas close by.
0:51:33 > 0:51:37'It's exactly this kind of experience that will draw tourists
0:51:37 > 0:51:40'here to see these incredible animals.'
0:51:40 > 0:51:43SOFT GRUNTING
0:51:45 > 0:51:48It feels like I've accomplished the mission,
0:51:48 > 0:51:52that I've got this gorilla family used seeing people that
0:51:52 > 0:51:55look different, that sound different, that behave differently.
0:51:55 > 0:51:58You know that, I think, is the future for them.
0:51:58 > 0:52:03Yeah, it's entirely possible that people could come here,
0:52:03 > 0:52:09from around the world and spend time in the company of this gorilla.
0:52:09 > 0:52:11I'm completely blown away by him.
0:52:17 > 0:52:20THUNDER RUMBLES
0:52:31 > 0:52:34'The rainy season has arrived.'
0:52:44 > 0:52:47It has been raining all through the night.
0:52:47 > 0:52:50And actually, it's a time of year that the gorillas will welcome
0:52:50 > 0:52:53because with the rain comes a new source of food.
0:52:53 > 0:52:56This rain will trigger all these fresh bamboo shoots.
0:52:56 > 0:53:00It's a favourite food of gorillas, packed full of protein.
0:53:09 > 0:53:12'Now that I've met one of Chimanuka's rivals,
0:53:12 > 0:53:15'I want to see how the big fella himself is doing.'
0:53:19 > 0:53:21We've got Chimanuka,
0:53:21 > 0:53:24the oldest member of the family,
0:53:24 > 0:53:29a father, a mother and an infant,
0:53:29 > 0:53:31all together in the forest.
0:53:33 > 0:53:36'It's only a matter of time before Chimanuka loses his family
0:53:36 > 0:53:39'to a younger silverback.
0:53:39 > 0:53:44'But for now, he stills maintains an aura of invincibility.'
0:53:48 > 0:53:51And I think it is just I have a huge amount of respect for him
0:53:51 > 0:53:56because he manages to do what every good silverback should do,
0:53:56 > 0:54:00which is to protect their family,
0:54:00 > 0:54:02to make sure that none of them come to harm.
0:54:05 > 0:54:07'Thanks to Chimanuka's protection,
0:54:07 > 0:54:10'baby Mwira has reached his first birthday.
0:54:13 > 0:54:15'I can't believe how much he's changed.
0:54:15 > 0:54:19'He used to spend all his time clinging onto his mum.
0:54:19 > 0:54:22'Now, he's exploring his world like never before.'
0:54:24 > 0:54:29Just seeing how adventurous, how strong Mwira is at this age.
0:54:29 > 0:54:31HE CHUCKLES
0:54:31 > 0:54:3529 years from now he's going to be as big and strong as his dad.
0:54:39 > 0:54:42'The orphan Marhale has also celebrated a birthday.
0:54:43 > 0:54:45'He's now four.
0:54:45 > 0:54:48'It's the age at which young gorillas start breaking away
0:54:48 > 0:54:50'from their parents.'
0:54:50 > 0:54:53Got Marhale high up in a tree,
0:54:53 > 0:54:55and it's quite possibly the furthest
0:54:55 > 0:54:59that I've actually seen him from Chimanuka,
0:54:59 > 0:55:02which is a great thing.
0:55:03 > 0:55:08Maybe that's the best time to leave him, the best way to see him,
0:55:08 > 0:55:09independent.
0:55:13 > 0:55:17'It's great to see Mwira and Marhale doing so well.
0:55:19 > 0:55:22'Chances are Chimanuka will stay in charge long enough to ensure
0:55:22 > 0:55:25'both these gorillas will survive any change
0:55:25 > 0:55:29'in the leadership of the family.
0:55:29 > 0:55:32'What a legacy that would be.'
0:55:32 > 0:55:34It's very easy to be moved by gorillas
0:55:34 > 0:55:39but I didn't expect to be in awe of them in quite this way.
0:55:39 > 0:55:44It's inspiring to see a gorilla like Chimanuka,
0:55:44 > 0:55:47to see how he holds it all together,
0:55:47 > 0:55:52and he does it not just through might and strength.
0:55:52 > 0:55:58It's about strong leadership, it's about providing protection
0:55:58 > 0:56:03to every member of your family, and caring and nurturing.
0:56:03 > 0:56:06And all of these things take work.
0:56:08 > 0:56:12But silverback males seem to do it very easily.
0:56:12 > 0:56:16It is just part of who they are,
0:56:16 > 0:56:17part of their nature.
0:56:22 > 0:56:25'After half an hour, Chimanuka decides to move on.
0:56:27 > 0:56:29'It's time to say goodbye.'
0:56:31 > 0:56:33It's a farewell Chimanuka-style.
0:56:37 > 0:56:39I'm going to miss you, big fella.
0:56:46 > 0:56:50The further Chimanuka gets, the harder it is to distinguish him
0:56:50 > 0:56:53from just the shapes and shadows of the forest.
0:56:53 > 0:56:57Maybe this is the best way to say farewell to him,
0:56:57 > 0:57:02just to watch him lead his family off into the dark in search of food.
0:57:20 > 0:57:24'It's been such a privilege to spend time both with the gorillas
0:57:24 > 0:57:28'and the park staff who are working to conserve the forest
0:57:28 > 0:57:30'and its beautiful creatures.
0:57:36 > 0:57:40'I hope my contribution to habituating Mpungwe
0:57:40 > 0:57:44'will in some small way help the park go from strength to strength,
0:57:44 > 0:57:48'overcoming the traumas of the past,
0:57:48 > 0:57:52'attracting more tourists and securing the future for the people
0:57:52 > 0:57:56'here and for Grauer's gorillas for decades to come.'
0:57:58 > 0:58:02This has been the fulfilment of a lifetime ambition,
0:58:02 > 0:58:04to spend time in the forest with gorillas
0:58:04 > 0:58:07and I don't know whether I'll be back,
0:58:07 > 0:58:09but maybe it'd be nice to think that 30 years from now
0:58:09 > 0:58:13I could be walking through these forests, and I find Mwira,
0:58:13 > 0:58:17the mighty silverback, with his family of 40,
0:58:17 > 0:58:20living in this forest where he grew up.