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Mountain-Gorilla


Mountain-Gorilla
Photo Information
Copyright: Peter van Zoest (PeterZ) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1104 W: 59 N: 2243] (7437)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2001-07-28
Categories: Mammals
Camera: nikon f 50, AF Nikkor 70-210, Fuji Sensia 100
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-02-06 14:42
Viewed: 1210
Points: 12
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
In 2001 we visited Uganda. A beautiful country. A sensation is the looking for the mountain-gorilla (Gorilla gorilla beringei). After the preparation for a heavy day with a lot of climbing through the bush of the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park one of the gards found a small group. 4 Hours of searching was paid. And how... It's one of the biggest sensations I ever experienced. What a huge animals! We stand there for more than an hour hanging on the steep slope against the trees in a deep silence. It was almost impossible to make photos.
You could approach them till 5 meters.

Gorillas are the biggest monkeys. De gorillas of Bwindi are mountain-gorillas, the most rare gorilla-species. In Uganda the mountain-gorillas only live in Virunga (about 300) and in Bwindi (about 290) The other kind are the lowland-gorillas. Gorillas live only in moisture jungle of West and Central Africa.
Gorillas live in familygroups of roughly 12 animals with one or two silverbacks (males).
In general they are vegetarians. They eat more than 60 different kind of plants. Also fruit and occasionally insects, snakes and even dead babies. The plants contain a lot of water. They only drink in the dry season from streams and lick the water of their coat during a rainshower.
They are traveling and eating in the morning and rest in the afternoon. The silverback decide mostly where to go, to eat and rest.
There a lot more to tell about them, but one thing is very important:
The battle for the survival of the gorillas and their forest home is not won. There are too few gorillas, the protected area is too small and education and community outreach is still in need of expansion.

This day I never forget.
PaulH, SelenE has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Peter.
The effort definately worthed the price, it must be impressing. Thanks very much for bringing your sensations to us not only in the beautiful and unique shot, but also in your note.
Regards, Felipe.

bonjour Peter,
très belle photo de ce gorille belle couleurs et composition bravo

eric

  • Great 
  • batu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 987 W: 282 N: 3225] (10662)
  • [2007-02-06 15:06]

Hello Peter,
thank you for posting and sharing this nice picture of this threatened species. I think I can imagine your feeling being so close to them - in the field and not in a zoo.
Best wishes, Peter

lovely portrait.
mario

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 989 W: 23 N: 2761] (10082)
  • [2007-02-06 17:20]

Hi Peter,

it must have been an amazing moment, and you captured it excellently. Perfect pose and composition,great note too.

Thanks for sharing,

Paul

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2304 W: 59 N: 3674] (11774)
  • [2008-03-31 11:44]

Hi Peter,
You are very lucky to be able to see his beautiful animal in the wild. I liked the expression you've captured a lot. TFS
Best wishes,
Selen

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