Silverback Gorilla
A large Male silverback gorilla, photographed in the Virunga Mountains, Rhwanda.
After climbing, for several hours, up the mountain, and with the gorilla group in sight, the guide warned us that in order to have sufficient time for the descent, we would only be able to stay for one hour with the gorillas.
We positioned ourselves just a few feet from the closest sub-group and began taking pictures. The group consisted of about twenty gorillas in total, females, juveniles and babies plus the one large male silverback – the leader of the group. He lay on the ground some feet behind the others and partially obscured by bush.
After almost an hour, I worried that I was not going to get an opportunity to photograph him, and if I did, would I still have enough 400 ISO film left (necessary in the dense forest) after being unable to resist all the adorable baby gorillas.
Exactly one hour, to the minute, after we arrived, the silverback sat up, at which point I took the picture. He stood and turned and started to walk up the mountain, through the trees, immediately followed by the rest of the group. Within seconds they were gone, completely out of sight. I had my picture and a memory to last a lifetime.
Ref: 0041
Date: 03/08/90
Location: Virunga Mountains, Rhwanda
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