Wild Mountain Gorillas Surround a Man

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In Bwindi National Park, southwest Uganda, John J King had one of the most astonishing experiences with a group of wild mountain Gorillas.  Such close interactions between humans and gorillas in the wild are infrequent.

The man in the video joined a group of wildlife enthusiasts through the forest to find wild gorillas. They dedicated three days to the experience and were fortunate to find wild gorillas on all three days.

The Man's Account

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On the 1st day, they spent one hour with a group of gorillas called the Habinyanja group. On the 2nd day, they spent time with the Rushegura group. On the 3rd day, they woke up to find the Rushegura group just outside the camp.

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In the video, touched by a Wild Mountain Gorilla, John is seated next to the group of gorillas; the young gorillas touch him and look through his hair, likely looking for parasites to clean him.

The Video

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The gorillas come right up close to him. One gorilla even licks his face! The silverback allows even the babies to come close to the man. The man is overwhelmed by this experience but looks ecstatic to be trusted by the gorillas.

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Dr Michele Goldsmith has dedicated 21 years to working with wild animals, particularly mountain gorillas. She expresses her concerns over ecotourism and discusses the risks of gorillas becoming too accustomed to human presence.

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Dr. Michele Goldsmith’s Take on Ecotourism

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There is also a risk of potential harm from poachers. If gorillas are not afraid of humans, they might allow poachers to get too close, risking their lives.

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While ecotourism has brought attention and money to Uganda’s endangered gorillas, it has also led to challenges such as over-habituation and insufficient benefits to local communities.

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Tourism’s Double-Edged Sword

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Wild Mountain Gorillas Surround a Man

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