Chimp

[bigbob]

I noticed that some kind soul gave me a 10 for this shot in my galley , thought you might be interested on why i shot it .
It was taken at Howletts wild animal park nr Canterbury .
It is in fact a baby gorilla's hand which was on it's mothers lap close to the bars.
When i saw the fingers through the bars it reminded me of a similar picture i'd seen of a imprisoned bear in a eastern zoo .
There was no hope for that bear but this little chap has everything to look foward to , Howletts is one of leading conservation zoo's in the west , and
their policy of sending back gorillas to their native countries is praised worldwild .
So although this looks like a sad picture it is in fact nothing of the sort . not for that little guy anyway .

B..

[coupekid]

Re: Chimp

Well, Bigbob, its certainly a sad looking image, which is why I appreciate the explanation so much, Howletts is indeed a super place.

http://www.totallywild.net/tour.php

As for imprisoned Bears etc, well, its just so upsetting to see such magnificent creatures treated so badly.

Great shot, and thanks again for the explanation.

[Archangel]

Re: Chimp

I noticed that some kind soul gave me a 10 for this shot in my galley , thought you might be interested on why i shot it .
It was taken at Howletts wild animal park nr Canterbury .
It is in fact a baby gorilla's hand which was on it's mothers lap close to the bars.
When i saw the fingers through the bars it reminded me of a similar picture i'd seen of a imprisoned bear in a eastern zoo .
There was no hope for that bear but this little chap has everything to look foward to , Howletts is one of leading conservation zoo's in the west , and
their policy of sending back gorillas to their native countries is praised worldwild .
So although this looks like a sad picture it is in fact nothing of the sort . not for that little guy anyway .

B..

Bob,

You really have great ability in smelling the good photos.
Luckily the little gorilla was behind bars, otherwise I don't think you would do the same if he was in his natural enviroment

Great shot!


Regards

George

[bigbob]

Re: Chimp

Thanks Ben i'm a great fan of what both John Aspinall and now this son have achieved .
George these really are the most gentle of creatures , i remember a story where in america a small child fell into a gorilla enclosure and the gorilla's gathered around it to protect it and then carried it the door so the keeper could rescue it .
Not saying they'd do the same if i fell in though

B..

[coupekid]

Re: Chimp

Thanks Ben i'm a great fan of what both John Aspinall and now this son have achieved .
George these really are the most gentle of creatures , i remember a story where in america a small child fell into a gorilla enclosure and the gorilla's gathered around it to protect it and then carried it the door so the keeper could rescue it .
Not saying they'd do the same if i fell in though

B..

Absolutely right!
I too remember this, extract:
Documented: Child falls into gorilla enclosure at the zoo and is injured; instead of harming it the gorilla stands guard until the child is rescued.

This incident happened in 1986 at the Jersey Zoo in the Channel Islands. At the time, gorillas were widely thought of as vicious monsters; when a five-year-old boy fell into the gorilla enclosure and was knocked unconscious, people expected him to be torn limb from limb. Instead, the male gorilla stood over the boy, apparently protecting him, until human assistance arrived. News footage of this incident was shown worldwide and is credited by Gerald Durrell, then the zoo's director, with "help[ing] to change the image of the gorilla for ever".


From:

http://tafkac.org/faq2k/animal_2052.html

[Archangel]

Re: Chimp

Absolutely right!
I too remember this, extract:
Documented: Child falls into gorilla enclosure at the zoo and is injured; instead of harming it the gorilla stands guard until the child is rescued.

This incident happened in 1986 at the Jersey Zoo in the Channel Islands. At the time, gorillas were widely thought of as vicious monsters; when a five-year-old boy fell into the gorilla enclosure and was knocked unconscious, people expected him to be torn limb from limb. Instead, the male gorilla stood over the boy, apparently protecting him, until human assistance arrived. News footage of this incident was shown worldwide and is credited by Gerald Durrell, then the zoo's director, with "help[ing] to change the image of the gorilla for ever".


From:
http://tafkac.org/faq2k/animal_2052.html

Yes, indeed, but that is not an example to experiment in the future with.
Besides that, that gorilla was in a zoo, being for long time familiar to be observed and live between humans and feeded from the zoo on daily basis.

We really don't know how a wild gorilla would behave in the jungle, or even another gorilla in a zoo, if a human being falls in his hands and maybe there is no need to experiment with and have possible human casualities or even worse. Or at least this experiment shouldn't be done with humans.

We also have bad examples from circus civilized animals that close their mouth when the head of their trainer was in, other examples with civilized crocodiles, etc...

Also we must have in mind that even in zoo parks and no matter how civilized or familiar these animals are with the people they are still behind bars, not only for the reason of not being able to escape.

So in general, I believe that there is nothing standard or given by a single example, but instead everything is flaxuating and is up to the specific behaviour moment, that maybe a good or a bad example.


Regards

George

[bigbob]

Re: Chimp

George i've seen first hand John Aspinall playing with full blown mountain gorillas at Howletts they really are one of the most gentle creatures both in zoos and in the wild , when there not being threatened .
I don't know if your familiar with the work of Dian Fossey , but she is one of the leading experts on both Mountain and Silverback gorillas , to see her playing with Silverbacks in the wild is only to be marveled at .

http://www.gorillafund.org/

And who can Forget that wonderfull scene when Sir David Attenborough met that mountain gorilla on the mountain in 'life on earth'
Ben i never realised that was at Durrels Zoo on Jersey , i had it on my mind it was in the States.

B..

[Tinka]

Re: Chimp

George i've seen first hand John Aspinall playing with full blown mountain gorillas at Howletts they really are one of the most gentle creatures both in zoos and in the wild , when there not being threatened .
I don't know if your familiar with the work of Dian Fossey , but she is one of the leading experts on both Mountain and Silverback gorillas , to see her playing with Silverbacks in the wild is only to be marveled at .

http://www.gorillafund.org/

And who can Forget that wonderfull scene when Sir David Attenborough met that mountain gorilla on the mountain in 'life on earth'
Ben i never realised that was at Durrels Zoo on Jersey , i had it on my mind it was in the States.

B..

Hi Bob,
Thank you for sharing the story with us.
I watch a lot of natural history progs and wildlife progs and remember someone living with and studying the gorillas in a jungle somewhere, these were in their wild natural habitat, and they proved to be very gentle creatures, onle becomeing aggressive if they felt that they or their young or group members were threatened.

[coupekid]

Re: Chimp

We also have bad examples from circus civilized animals that close their mouth when the head of their trainer was in, other examples with civilized crocodiles, etc...

I think thats a good example!

It educates people that animals are not toys or fashion accessories!

I reckon its important to remember that animals can be so misrepresented. A good example is wolves, very gentle creatures, that will only attack as a last resort. Many animals are the same, its not in their make up to attack unless provoked, or necessary, as if they become hurt in any way, the chances of survival are dramatically reduced.

[Archangel]

Re: Chimp

I think thats a good example!

It educates people that animals are not toys or fashion accessories!

I reckon its important to remember that animals can be so misrepresented. A good example is wolves, very gentle creatures, that will only attack as a last resort. Many animals are the same, its not in their make up to attack unless provoked, or necessary, as if they become hurt in any way, the chances of survival are dramatically reduced.

Tis is exactly what I'm saying Coupekid. Animals are not toys. They don't behave all the same way like a same toy in different hands.

Let me ask this now:

If you were in a jungle or in a mountain, would you ever go close to a gorilla or a wolf, just because you heard or read or saw somewhere that are gentle animals? And if you would go close, what makes you so shure that the animal would consider your approach friendly and not a threat?

Personally, I also believe that some animals are gentle to approach but I bet nobody from here nor from anywhere who claims that (except of trained people of course) would ever go close to a gorilla in the jungle or into a wolf in the mountain.


Regards


George

[coupekid]

Re: Chimp

Tis is exactly what I'm saying Coupekid. Animals are not toys. They don't behave all the same way like a same toy in different hands.

Let me ask this now:

If you were in a jungle or in a mountain, would you ever go close to a gorilla or a wolf, just because you heard or read or saw somewhere that are gentle animals? And if you would go close, what makes you so shure that the animal would consider your approach friendly and not a threat?

Personally, I also believe that some animals are gentle to approach but I bet nobody from here nor from anywhere who claims that (except of trained people of course) would ever go close to a gorilla in the jungle or into a wolf in the mountain.


Regards


George

Ha ha, you dont know me very well George, absolutely I would. My wife hates me for taking risks all too often to get a decent shot. You are now talking to someone who regularly hangs around on the top of a hill during thunder storms in desperation to get a good shot. (yes I know its not big or clever, and pretty stupid but some of us just love to take silly risks)

In all seriousness though, yes I would have no hesitation to gently approach an animal in the wild, and the way to do it is to not make long eye contact, as this is threatening behaviour to most animals. As long as you dont make sudden movements you should be fine. I would be hesitant to approach gorillas with newly born young though.

However, just to show my other side, I am petrified of moths and butterflies, and find it more of challenge to photograph them than anything else. (even close ups of wasps nests)

[Jocelyn Walker]

Re: Chimp

George i've seen first hand John Aspinall playing with full blown mountain gorillas at Howletts they really are one of the most gentle creatures both in zoos and in the wild , when there not being threatened .
I don't know if your familiar with the work of Dian Fossey , but she is one of the leading experts on both Mountain and Silverback gorillas , to see her playing with Silverbacks in the wild is only to be marveled at .

http://www.gorillafund.org/

And who can Forget that wonderfull scene when Sir David Attenborough met that mountain gorilla on the mountain in 'life on earth'
Ben i never realised that was at Durrels Zoo on Jersey , i had it on my mind it was in the States.

B..

Actually bigbob, Alan Root (wildlife conservationist & film maker, found on google search) who filmed the sequence of the silverback in that movie was mauled a bit by it! One has to remember, you can take an animal from the wild, but you never take the wild from the animal.