Living amongst Gorillas

Living amongst Gorillas

2011, Nature  -   17 Comments
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Ratings: 7.99/10 from 102 users.

Filmmaker Thomas Behrend has endured a perilous eight hour drive through the jungles of the Central African Republic to reach the habitat of 3,000 silverback Makumbas, a majestic and generally mild-mannered gorilla. Assisted by world renowned zoologist Angelique Todd, who is known as "The Gorilla Whisperer", and a team of ingenious trackers, Behrend braves the elements and sets out to record the Makumba species in their natural environment.

His journey of discovery is captured in The Jungle Adventure: Living amongst Gorillas, a revealing look at these rare and glorious creatures, and the passionate conservationists who devote their lives to observing and protecting them.

The Makumba are well acquainted with their human neighbors, and possess a level of comfort with them that almost borders on the dismissive. Teams of students, scientists and other explorers from all across the world often make a trek to the region for the opportunity to interact with the gorilla, and to learn the intricacies of their behavior and their relationship with the world around them.

As the film so beautifully demonstrates, strong bonds are possible between these gorillas and their human counterparts, especially those who invest sufficient time, and demonstrate the proper amount of patience and respect for the creatures and their home. Such is the case with Todd, who has remained in their company for years, observing their every move and custom, and even nursing them back to health when they fall ill.

Perhaps most profoundly, Living amongst Gorillas is revelatory in its depiction of Todd and others like her. The film provides a tactile sense of the treacherous environment in which these explorers must work. They sleep in unassuming camps hidden deep within the jungle, and are surrounded by potentially dangerous insects and the constant threat of tropical disease.

The jungles which serve as their foundations of exploration are not only inhabited by the gorillas they seek; the region is also teaming with imposing elephants who are often not as accommodating to human outsiders. Their lives are driven by the same sense of purpose that defines the film: an unquenchable desire to understand the most glorious of creatures which populate our planet, and to uncover our place among them.

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Mark
Mark
7 years ago

This was a very strange documentary, it is more about how hard it is to film low land apes, rather than being about them. Seemed almost like a non event, although I was entertained.

CommonSense
CommonSense
7 years ago

Wasn't as good as i thought it would be. Seemed more like a boring, whiny reality show than an actual nature doc.

clara
clara
7 years ago

omg this is so funny

this should be called HOW NOT TO FILM GORILLAS IN THE MIST LOL

clara
clara
7 years ago

angelique needs to get laid she is a stuck up miserable cow

clara
clara
7 years ago

Tom

i will be your gorilla any day climb all over u

love claire

ireland

Tadepalli subrahmanyam
Tadepalli subrahmanyam
8 years ago

Quite amazing documentary. besides following the
gorilla family ; he would have also photographed the other wildlife in the jungle. He might have made this docu. a more fascinating one by interviewing the locals how they adore their jungle brethren.

Marek
Marek
8 years ago

Is this doc about Thomas Behrend in the jungle?? I want more gorillas less thomas!!!

Jeremy
Jeremy
8 years ago

Very intersting, you should add more documentary like this one.

Dan
Dan
9 years ago

Some good footage in there, but its more about trying to film and not so much about the gorillas. still decent though.

dmxi
dmxi
9 years ago

the notion that our so 'omni-potent' world leaders have proven
themselves as an useless 'ape-endix ' (wink-wink) ,mastering themselves
in the 'monkey-business' (from pundit to bandit!!!! )just to fail in
simple standards as to protect & save our 'darwinian brothers'!
senselessness
accepted to justify wall-street madness....which is a world we all
accept & let
rule............................................................?

Rhodia
Rhodia
9 years ago

.."RESPECT for the creatures and their home.."..??? If they "needed" people, then maybe they would be following people around..instead of the other way around...ugh.

Lenny
Lenny
9 years ago

Is this a documentary about life in Raqqa?

Ron Smith
Ron Smith
9 years ago

only one thing I saw that surprised me. I never saw a gorilla walk in a stream before, I thought they feared water. I thought I read that when I was reading about "koko". what didn't surprise me was he refers to the guides as boys, they are grown men. the more things change, the more they remain the same.

deliaruhe
deliaruhe
9 years ago

The future of these gorillas depends largely on the kind of future the developed world allows the locals.

JoAnn Barrick
JoAnn Barrick
9 years ago

The only thing wrong with this documentary is , it's far too short ! Would have loved for it to be at least 2 hours long :)

dodieellen
dodieellen
9 years ago

What amazing creatures...As with everything else, they are ruining their natural habitats..Will man ever learn..Probably not.....How sad.