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Silverback
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
Taken on a recent visit to Jersey Zoo I photographed this Silverback only to find out later that there had been a death in the group just just seven days earler.
The gorilla is the largest of all the primates and not in the slightest bit deserving of its fierce King Kong image – a fact that many people are nowadays thankfully aware of.
Five different races or ‘sub-species’ of gorilla are currently recognized, all of which face a severe threat of extinction in their native equatorial African habitat.
The gruesome and growing illegal trade in gorilla ‘bush meat’ and the all too common problem of habitat loss are the main reasons for the decline of these magnificent apes.
"after the tragic loss of Durrell's four year old western lowland gorilla, Ya Pili, her family are starting to show positive signs they are coming to terms with her death.
Ya Pili died at a few minutes past six on the morning of Friday 12th October after a sudden illness lasting a week. A post mortem has already been carried out but results aren't expected for some time. While the cause of death remains unexplained there are no signs of ill health in the rest of Durrell's group of gorillas.
Richard Johnstone-Scott, who has been working with gorillas for 40 years, said all the staff who'd worked with Ya Pili were obviously devastated by her death. However, the impact of the loss had hit the rest of the gorillas the hardest.
He said: "From their behaviour it would seem that only now certain individuals are beginning to come to terms with the loss of the vibrant little female, who despite tipping the scales at a mere 35 kilos has left an enormous gap in the group's structure. For all those who knew her, both human and non-human, this captivating little gorilla will forever remain conspicuous by her absence."
Over the course of Ya Pili's illness her father, Ya Kwanza, mother, Hlala Kahilli, and the other females were seen gently coaxing the lethargic youngster to her feet, showing increasing concern as the week went on. It's now hoped signs shown in the last few days are an indication the group are beginning to accept their huge loss.
Quentin Bloxam, Durrell's Director of Conservation Mangement: "It mustn't be forgotten that loss of life occures in the wild as well as in captivity. Those losses affect groups in the wild in just the same way as it impacts on groups such as ours here in Jersey."
Further information on Jersey Zoo can be found at the following link http://www.jerseyzoo.co.uk/ |
vanderschelden, bojtorjan, c_rapp, danbachmann has marked this note useful
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Hello Richard,
Impressive friends you have:-)
Doesn't look happy though...
Quite a character
TFS
Annick
Welcome back. I hope you plan on showing more photos from your trip. This one is really good. I like the lighting.
Hi Rick!
Woww....what a face. He looks angry and very thoughtful in the same time.
Excellent focus, sharpness and clarity. The only thing what I'm missing is
his whole head but even so is a great work! ;o)
Regards ... Lea
- c_rapp
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(738) - [2007-12-09 19:52]
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Very impressive capture the expression and the details are wow! WOW! TFs
Christan
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