Species: Silverback Gorilla | Location: Vocanoes National Park, Rwanda
One of the highlights of my life was visiting Volcanoes National Park and seeing the magnificent Silverback Gorilla. There are several groups that can be visited that are acclimated to humans hanging around. We visited the Amahoro (peaceful) group. The day we went it was raining non stop and it took hours to hike and reach them in the knee deep mud. You are allowed to spend 1 hour once you reach them. This mighty Silverback was avoiding the rain and hiding out in his gorilla made nest. He stayed huddled most of the time and ate. Despite the fact that he looks a bit scary in this shot, he is just yawning. As we left, so did he, and when I turned my back, he glided behind me- ever so slightly brushing against me. I'll never forget that feeling, gentle yet very intimidating! There are well under 1,000 remaining mountain gorillas, making them critically endangered. Through protecting these animals and their habitats, responsible tourism, the WWF, and others work, they are starting to see an increase in numbers. These amazing creatures that we have so much in common with deserve to be protected, I won't imagine a world without them!
About The Photographer
I'm a Graphic Designer who loves photography. I especially enjoy sharing photos of wildlife I encounter while traveling. I travel frequently and many of my adventures center around enjoying the nature and wildlife of any place I go.
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