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Super Gorillas?

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18 November 2004, 03:47
Harry
Super Gorillas?
King Congo: Super-gorillas spotted in Africa � (Daily News � November 4, 2002)
They are 2.2 meters tall, weigh more than 90kg and are fond of lion for breakfast. They make their home in the darkest reaches of the Congolese jungle and hunt in packs, silently stalking their prey for hours, then breaking cover and overcoming the terrified creature before it has a chance to flee. Wildlife experts and scientists are baffled: are they simply a more aggressive family of gorillas with a propensity for violence? Or are they a new species - a new great ape and one of the most sensational zoological discoveries for decades?
18 November 2004, 04:06
ErikD
Quote:

weigh more than 90kg





I certainly hope so! Or else they'd be a bit anorexic!



A typical male gorilla of both the lowland and mountian variety is a tad under 6 feet and weighs around 165 kg. A big "silverback" will often be even a bit bigger and closer to 200 kg. So 90 kg is on the really small side!



When you're only 2-3 meters away, you'd be amazed over how big they actually are. It's obvious that if they wanted to, ripping you in two wouldn't be a problem, and acting in a calm and controlled fashion is vital so as to not aggrivate them. Yet the facinating thing with gorillas (although the "new", aggresive type found in DRC is apperently another story!) is that they are really very quiet and peacefull, in sharp contrast to chimps which are often very loud and aggressive:



Below are some pictures I took of mountain gorillas in Uganda, near the border to Rwanda and DRC:





When trekking after gorilla, you usually go out with a platoon of Ugandan soldiers, who's main function is to protect the gorillas from poachers, and you from rebels that sneak over the border from DRC and Rwanda.



The gorillas were up the mountain side you see in the backround in the thick bamboo jungle:





Erik D.
18 November 2004, 07:02
nainital
There is something unkosher in this report. The scientist who supposedly was stalked by four of these apes says that they weighed from 90 to 110 kilograms or whereabouts.
How did she knew that?. Did she kill one or several of the creatures?. For my money is nothing more that a good tall tale...
18 November 2004, 10:18
Peter
Wonderful pictures ErikD! I too see a problem, if gorillas inhabit jungle or heavily treed areas, and lions inhabit more "plains" type areas, how do they meet in mortal combat?
peter.
18 November 2004, 11:26
ErikD
Peter,

A couple of younger Mountain gorillas:


As you can see below, the jungle where the Mountain gorillas live is pretty dense, there's a gorilla hiding only about 2 meters in front of me:


But! I recently saw a documentary from Congo-Brazzaville where the Western Lowland gorillas came out into open marshes and plains-like areas during the day, retreating into the jungle only for the nights where they would obviously be more protected while sleeping. Gorillas make nests on the ground (a new one every night) and thus would be at a disadvantage in the open while sleeping. Btw, in colder climates such as the Mountain gorilla lives in, they keep their nest warm by defecating in the nest before laying down. kind of like a hot water bottle! Sounds sort of nasty, but it's actually a pretty smart idea if you think about it. It can get damn cold at the altitude they live in, even if it's near the equator.

So it would seem that potentially, if other isolated types of gorillas act in a simular fashion of the Western Lowland type, that these other types might also venture into more open areas where lions can perhaps occasionally found. So the "story" might be true. But I wouldn't bet on it until further proof is offered.

As for the battle of Gorilla vs. Lion, I'd actually maybe bet on the gorilla if it was a big silverback! We're talking 200 kg of sharp fanged muscle, combined with the ability to use its hands. I natually don't know for sure, but it wouldn't suprise me if a lion would actually flee from a charging silverback... Even if only from the suprise of being charged by a weird looking huge black beast! This is of course purely hypothetical...

All in all, I'd have to say that being up close to gorillas was one of the most amazing animal experiances I've had. And I'd advise anyone contemplating a hunt/trip to east africa to seriously think about setting off some extra time to visit Uganda or Rwanda for this purpose. It's well worth it.

Erik D.
18 November 2004, 11:35
BFaucett
I'm not putting forth an opinion on this but for those that are interested, here's a link to a more complete article/story on the subject:

King Congo: Super-gorillas spotted in Africa

-Bob F.
18 November 2004, 12:21
N'gagi
When I first saw this post, I thought you were talking about me and Christer. 650 pounds of twisted steel and sex appeal!


18 November 2004, 12:37
Pete E
The same story was on the BBC website a couple of weeks ago except its a "super" chimp not a gorilla. It seems they have discovered this extra large chimp and they don't know if its a new species for some sort of chimp/gorilla hybred. Apparently the later should just not happen as there are no gorillas in the area and the habitat is also wrong for gorillas but they are still keeping an open mind...





regards,



Pete
18 November 2004, 12:42
Pete E
Looks like my memory fails me...it was about a potentially new species of "giant Ape"...The full stroy is at:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3730574.stm

regards,

Pete
18 November 2004, 12:49
Canuck
Quote:

When I first saw this post, I thought you were talking about me and Christer. 650 pounds of twisted steel and sex appeal!





ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!

That was great...thanks. Great pic, btw.

Cheers,
Canuck
18 November 2004, 12:58
T.Carr
Quote:

When I first saw this post, I thought you were talking about me and Christer. 650 pounds of twisted steel and sex appeal!









As my grandaddy used to say, "165 pounds of twisted steel, sex appeal and quick as a cat."



Regards,



Terry
18 November 2004, 22:09
ErikD
Quote:

When I first saw this post, I thought you were talking about me and Christer. 650 pounds of twisted steel and sex appeal!





At first I thought you were Siamese twins joined at the shoulder! And I see the steel, but I'm a bit unsure about the sex appeal part!

Over to the other apes; the links shed some interesting light I think, as they brought up the potential chimp relation. This would easier explain the 90 kg "lean and mean" part, as chimps are much more slim and wiry then gorillas. Not to mention agressive.

Chimps hunt, gang-rape female chimps, and go to war on other groups of chimps! Which shows perhaps just how closely related chimps and humans are...

A chimp eating wild figs (the clusters seen right next to, and above him):



Erik D.
18 November 2004, 22:25
Bwanamich
Quote:

When I first saw this post, I thought you were talking about me and Christer. 650 pounds of twisted steel and sex appeal!





Man those 12x50 bino's look small on you guys!
Not too mention the "big foot" jeep....
19 November 2004, 05:02
Atkinson
Yo! Bubba where be yo Lone Star?