Reporters Encounter Gorilla in Rwanda
Wednesday June 13 1:23 AM ET
By RODRIQUE NGOWI, Associated Press Writer
VIRUNGA NATIONAL PARK, Rwanda (AP) - The 330-pound mountain gorilla
sat in the dense, damp forest that covers the slopes of Mount Karisimbi, peering
at reporters as he picked lice from his fur and popped them into his mouth.
The Rwandan army escorted four reporters to Virunga National Park this
month after Hutu rebels killed and ate a silverback mountain gorilla,
one of only about 355 of its subspecies in the wild.
The guide insisted that no one get within eight yards of any gorilla,
and advised against sudden movements, coughs or sneezes to avoid
alarming the giant primates.
But Nyakaganga, a 12-year-old black back, got no such instructions.
With a scream that displayed large, sharp, stained fangs, the primate
thumped his chest and charged down the steep slope, crashing through
the
thick undergrowth.
``Crouch down quickly!'' the guide hissed.
Nyakaganga was in a playful mood after a bamboo shoot breakfast, but
there was nothing reassuring about the look in his dark brown eyes and
the toothy display.
When his coarse, black palm clamped on my wrist, I wondered how many
of
my bones would be broken; I was completely out of my element in the
tall
trees, dense creepers and rotting vegetation.
Feet planted firmly on the wet, brown-green ground, I dug my heels
into
the earth and wrenched my hand from the powerful grip.
Oddly, no one screamed; everyone was excited by the close encounter
with
the playful gorilla.
He came back toward us, apparently drawn to a small digital video
camera. Before Nyakaganga could grab it, my terrified colleague from
Agence France-Presse dropped the camera only to be grabbed at by the
gorilla, who eventually backed off.
None of the reporters was injured.
Liz Williamson, a staffer for the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund
International, said Nyakaganga is learning.
``He is an adolescent and likes to push his weight around ... In a
couple of years, he will reach maturity and will be forced out of the
family group,'' said Williamson. ``We are trying to discourage him
from
playing with visitors.''
Original Article Link below:
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20010613/wl/rwanda_brief_encounter_1.h
tml
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