Thank you Barbara - that is what I tried to do - just to show their lives as though we were part of their family!

Titus was not just the benevelant leader you describe...he was taken in when a youngster...and only due to that unusual allowance could he develope into the leader he became....a leader who then used his abilities to dismiss other males..unlike that acceptance he was allowed. fairy tales are for children.

Plants, period. The term "plant based" is an American advertising term.

lol...why? because you are brainwashed into believing everything requires meat to survive..... yet....the largest animals on earth and in the seas...do not eat meat....... the reality is NO LIVING THING requires meat....obviously i am not threatening nature..just pointing out a fact

@@jadezee6316 Actually the largest animal in the world is a blue whale and they eat mostly krill. Krill are crustaceans so you’re wrong. Just look at the long term health issues suffered by vegans and then try and tell me no living thing requires meat.

@@jadezee6316 you try eating 100 killos of plant aday 😆

Yes, it is amazing... look at horses too!

A peaceful transition of leadership as well, not what you might expect

unfortunately, Titus has passed. ♡

Titus has been gone for a few years now..and his son kuliama displaced him about two years before he died...R.I.P Titus you were were what a true king/man should be.

So, if people became plant eaters (vegetarion), they could be big but not obese? Also they would not have the health issues that are associated with being meat eaters. I like your comment. Thanks.

you all probably dont care at all but does any of you know a tool to get back into an Instagram account..? I somehow lost my login password. I would love any help you can offer me!

@Trenton Lyle instablaster =)

Evolution is a wonderful process! The other great apes all evolved slightly different diets - and so do not compete even when they live in the same forest - such as chimps and gorillas in Congo. 'HUman's evolved a more generalised diet as they colonised the newly emerging Savannah regions in Central Africa. This is why Louis Leakey started our research = to try and understand how the different branches of our common evolutionary tree separated. So, we are just another 'African Ape' - with a relatively poor diet today!

Cud u imagine if gorillas wer strictly meat eaters? The whole jungle wud be in trouble

Hi This sounds an interesting and rather 'romantic' if human theory - ie that the 'king chooses his successor' - in gorillas! Sorry - but that is not the case! The silverbacks fight - perhaps like 'Knights of Old' - and the best one wins. It was interesting to me to see that Kyryama took over - as I saw that Titus often did not treat him well when he was an infant! Eventually he got his own back!

Was thinking the same thing.

Hi Thank you I am so glad you enjoyed this.

Hi Chris - Thank you. I have tried in all of my videos and also publications - to tell it as it is! That is what a scientist does! However, some people do NOT like when I tell the truth! Especially re the 'Real Dian Fossey!' That was a sad story which should never have ended in such a tragic way - if only Dian had, as pointed out by Professor Robert Hinde - "Been able to work with others!" She fought against tourism - which was the real cause of her murder! I recommended tourism in my thesis in 1974 and my book The Wandering Gorillas in 1979 & now on iBooks) Tourism now brings in millions of dollars to Rwanda each year. That is why I was not murdered when I took over at Karisoke in 1987 - 1989!

Wow, amazing how the truth can be covered up sometimes. I know Dian F. conducted groundbreaking research with the mountain gorillas but I was left with somewhat negative feelings when I read that she didn't give her cameraman any credit in her book even though she used some of his suggestions in conducting her research. I heard that she didn't even mention him at all. I hope I'm not spreading incorrect information because I haven't read her book myself. Thank you for the terrific video! These animals are so fascinating!! I have watched this numerous times.

Hi Karen - glad you like to see some of the original groups from fifty years ago!. I just wish I had had an Iphone 13 Pro Max for my filming then! Best wishes Alan

Hi Sorry for the long delay as I have been doing other things! I hope to upload more in the next few months. Especially re the REAL heroes - ie the original Rwandese camp staff who worked at Karisoke. In the early days Dian called it 'Camp Moshi' She only named it Karisoke long after I left (for the first time)in 1971 - never as you see in the movie! Sadly many of the original Rwandese staff were killed during the terrible war and Genocide in 1994. I have some unique video of them and hope to edit and upload soon!

I am glad you like this - thanks for your comment!

+John Silverback My pleasure! I think the fact that Ziz grew up in a very sociable group (with three Silverbacks at one time who Dian called Beethoven, Bartok and Brahms because of their different vocalisations!) enabled him to have a wonderful relationship with his own offspring and social group. This is in marked contrast to Peanuts who became adult in an all male group and had no offspring of his own.

Dr Alan Goodall Indeed, Peanuts had a difficult life. And something I've noticed is how good it does for the young males to have strong relationship with the Silverbacks. The case of Titus with Beetsme is one, and I've read about others too, where youngsters get adopted by their fathers and develop such a strong relationship that seems to teach them how to be a great Silverback in their adult life.

+John Silverback - Well observed, and ' little' Kyryama (offspring of Beetsme & Papoose) eventually fought with and took over from Titus!

@@DrAlanGoodallisGorillaGoodall Yes, and the final straw wasn't even a battle. It was pushing old Titus until he couldn't even stand. He laid down and died a short time later.

Dr Alan Goodall, I thought I had seen a show that said they did a DNA test on Kyryama was the offspring of Titus. They said they had thought was Beetsme and Papoose but found out later belonged to Titus. So that Kyryama fought his own father to take over group. And some left Titus but some stayed behind and Loyal to Titus until Titus Passed Away. Thank You so much for all you have done over the many years in helping these Beautiful and amazing, loving Gorillas. And Thank You for reminding us all WHO THE REAL HEROS FROM THAT TIME WERE. WHO DEDICATED THEIR LIVES TO THESE GORILLAS AND LOST THEIR OWN DURING THAT HORRIBLE CIVIL WAR. I DO BELIEVE IN LIFE AFTER THIS ONE AND I BELIEVE YOU AND US ALL WILL BE WITH THEM ALL IN THE NEXT. Thanks for showing all of us your work. Blessings to you. So excited to see more that you have.

Gorillas are such amazing and beautiful ,I watch this with bittersweet emotions,since the start of the civil war and subsequent genocide in Rwanda that forced millions of people to be displaced and set up refugee camps in on and around the .Gorillas territory resulting in deforestation and poaching of wildlife with many Gorillas, Silverbacks females and little babys getting caught in snares or being shot by farmers as they feed on crops planted on what is traditionally the Gorillas habitat, so sad all round

Glad you enjoyed seeing them, and sharing some of my unique experiences of over thirty years ago - if only on old video technology

Glad you enjoyed it Ozzie!

Thank you! Perhaps you can tell your friends?

@@DrAlanGoodallisGorillaGoodall I've already done it! Thanks for replying!

Yes - these groups subsequently led to the famous ones led by 'King Titus' and another by Pablo, Cantsbee and Shinda

I agree - thanks to ALL the rangers - especially our early trackers at Karisoke (from 1970 on) who NEVER got the recognition they deserved! Sadly five were imprisoned for life - for alleged crimes which took place even before the terrible war and genocide - despite evidence re their innocence! Two have died in prison and the others are still there! On the DRC side in the Virunga National Park, it has been horrific - shades of my early days in 1972 when the then Director of the Parks, Jaques Verschueren' wrote his book 'Mourir pour les Elephants'. Today they die to save the gorillas.

@@DrAlanGoodallisGorillaGoodall Thank you for everything and I'm so sorry. Love sent to you and those beautiful soul's who are lost to this world for doing a beautiful thing. RIP 💔❤

Thank you! Films on lowland gorillas are starting to appear - as they too have been researched and habituated in regions of West Africa.

Hi Fatimat Thank you very much, your comments are much appreciated! It is hard for me to believe that I shot this video thirty years ago! I was very privileged to have the rare opportunity to study these incredible 'cousins' of ours, and to observe them closely in their beautiful mountain forest home for my Doctoral research. Fortunately they are now well protected by the Rwandan government and their citizens. I just wish that - thirty years ago - I had been able to use an iPhone 11, rather than the old technology of the day! As it is I managed to win several major international awards in 1992/1993 - one for the 'Intimate view of an Endangered Species; another for 'Comprehensive Depiction of Animal Behaviour' and the top award for 'Best Scientific Training Program' (Missoula, Montana, 1993) It was also a finalist in 'WILDSCREEN '92' at Bristol, UK. My main aim has been to show as many people as possible, especially the younger generation, the beauty of our natural world - and how we must do everything possible to protect and manage it as best we can. We owe this to out future generations! Even more important than these gorillas - is their rare forest home and ALL the rich diversity of this incredible montane forest. It plays such a vital role in the global environment. We see today the problems in the terrible fires in the Amazon rain forest - as our 'lungs' burn! Finally, and sadly, many of the Rwandan staff at Karisoke - who made this work possible - died in the terrible war and Genocide during 1994. My next video will be to show them at work - and a little of our celebrations during Christmas time. I prefer to remember them as they were during these best of times - rather than when I found so many of them - as refugees in July 1994 over in Congo. We all owe them so much.

Hi Kristen I am glad you are so interested in these remarkable cousins of ours! I had a lot of very close interactions with Titus (and have some super close up photos of him. However, Titus was not so kind to Kyryama when he was just a little bundle! Kyryama was born in August 1986 - and his father was Beetsme not Titus. I do not know from where you got the idea Titus was an orphan? According to my files he was born in August 1974.(After I left in 1971 to go to Zaire) His father was Uncle Bert (probably) and his mother was Flossie. That was then called Group 4 and was a large and social group. I know Titus was referred to - by some - as 'King Titus' - but their social life was quite complex - just like ours!

Hi I should now add this - which I replied to another post Hi My apologies - I had not seen any DNA test results that you describe re Titus/Kyryama. Thank you for pointing this out. That is very interesting as Titus was a 'Sneaky F....er' - which is a well known behaviour of sub dominant males in many species! Hence they 'sneak in' when the dominant male is not close - and impregnate one of his females! I have photos of Titus trying to do this - and it resulted in a huge fight with Beetsme!

I love Mountain Gorillas ! I cannot get enough of watching it. I love King Titus!

Hi THANK YOU! I tried my best to capture the incredible feelings I had when being accepted really as a part of their families. So I tried low angle shots walking with them - or letting them pass either side of me as they foraged. Sorry that the technology does not (Yet) allow the smells and beautiful forest mist to completely envelop you! The research I did during my Winston Churchill Fellowship on Virtual Reality Technology showed me that maybe 'one day' - and it is - finally - getting better. A BBC team has recently filmed some eastern gorillas in the Congo using VR. In my remote living now I do not have a headset so have not seen it! Unfortunately, at 80, I had not been as well as I hoped and so was unable to upload more programs. I am glad to say I am now MUCH better and fitter (though not as I was when following these beautiful animals in their forest home!) BUT, I will try and crate some more programs ASP!

You're welcome - glad you enjoyed it!

Hi Elizabeth Indeed that was a BIG question with which I struggled - and had many discussions with some of the first vets. One of them wanted to intervene too much. I later discovered because she wanted to get the first blood samples to discover if gorillas carried HIV! Finally I decided - rightly or wrongly - that we would only intervene if a gorilla was ill or wounded by something caused by man. This we did - to the best of our ability then - re Jozi - because it was a man made trap. Obviously we would also have done the same if one had been 'trapped' in a tree branch. We had no 'medical facility' as someone said we should use! We were at 10,000 feet in tropical jungle in a then not so well developed Rwanda. The nearest hospital, which serve a huge number of humans, was a long way away. Also, it was dangerous to even try and dart a gorilla as the huge silverback could charge and attack us - in defending his family! To try and then 'steal' one of his family - who may wake up and cry out - would invoke his wrath! Since those early days the 'Gorilla Doctors' program have developed more 'evolved' programs re intervention. But, where does it stop? In nature they have problems with their teeth - even abscesses - so do you have dental care also??? Mountain gorillas are, of course, very rare and highly endangered. There are NONE in captivity - although some zoos claim we should have some to breed. BUT returning them to the wild has it's own problems - such as where if their forest has been cut down as is now widespread? They are 'wild' animals - and need to be as free as possible - rather than in a controlled 'zoo' - supposedly in the wild. However, there is no 'ideal' answer to you great question! Like everything in evolution - it is ALL a compromise. We just hope we get the best one! I hope this clarifies our dilemma a bit more.

Do you think peanuts died because he had a penicillin allergy?

The sound is not good.

Great critique of this amazing film! I absolutely agree with everything you said 100%! They are such a fascinating species of great apes!

It's okay to say man....I guess some must be concerned enough to add that as a critique....but a beautiful documentary and thank you for the information and cinematography....

One pissed and shitted lolol

Ajax Dbz it’s call FEAR DUNG

They’re so adorable!

Yeah! An overweight very chubby Gorilla ;) they have that big tummy... So cute.

😘😘😘😘❤❤❤❤❤❤💙💓💙💜💜💓

My pleasure - glad you enjoy these videos taken thirty years ago. How I wish I had then the video technology I have now! An iPhone would have been fab - instead of struggling through thick vegetation with a huge camera and an unwieldy tripod! I am trying to find the time to finish some more videos, and especially of the work of the Rwandan staff at Karisoke - without them we would have achieved nothing!

@@DrAlanGoodallisGorillaGoodall i look foreword to seeing them. Your work Dr. Alan Goodall stands all in a class of it's own.

@@DrAlanGoodallisGorillaGoodall that's exactly how it feels ! I'm a big fan of every nature show... There is just something about yours Dr. That goes the extra mile as you said earlier they let you feel as if you're right there person. it's incredible the narration the angles the up-close-and-personal views and expressions on their faces the close-ups of their eyes you feel like they're looking right at you and the story that goes with it everything is Just Amazing these are masterpieces I would love an autograph if you're ever around Atlanta Georgia and having a book signing or something anything I hope that you announce it so I can be there

Thanks - you make me both humble and proud! I have tried to give a better understanding of both their lives, and the complex environmental systems they live in - and on which we ALL depend!

I have been invited to give a lecture in Florida this year - which I hope to become part of a lecture tour in USA! I was in Atlanta in 1999 - but then I was on My Winston Churchill Fellowship - studying the (then) new technology 'Virtual Reality. Atlanta Tech was doing some great research then - especially on virtual tours of world cities! Maybe one day I could update my gorilla videos to VR! Many times now I just wish that - then - I had had even an iPhone!!!!! You would have laughed if you had seen me trying to lug a huge camera on a tripod in the tangled forest vegetation - set it up, frame a shot - and then watch the gorillas walk out of sight! Start all over again, and again, and again!

Titus used to come and sit close to me - and show me his hand which had been bitten during a fight with Beetsme who he later repalced. Kyryama eventually replaced Titus!

It's my pleasure

He said it in the video... to search for their favorite food

Thank you!

Of Course! This was when he was number 2 in Beetsme's group (in 1988) Of course, he did not know he would become a 'King!' Later, tiny Kyryama here took over from Titus! C'est la Vie!

Hi It is called "Evolution by Natural Selection" as with all living thing, that enables them to solve the challenges in their niche

Humans do this when under severe stress. If you have ever served in the real military you would understand

@@DrAlanGoodallisGorillaGoodall oh I knew that I was just pointing out that its very extreme and a ton of urine that's all 😆

@@Ivan-oi8un Ok Ivan!😂

Yea wtf lol!!!! Just letting it go while your letting it go!

The succession was Beetsme, Titus and then Kyryama.

Unusually, Titus allowed Beetsme to remain in the group even after taking dominance from him.

He stayed with the group till his death

Thanks - very interesting. BUT - how I wish that in those early days when I shot these videos (1987/88/89) I had the technology I have now!!!!

@Grizzly country IKR!

WELL SAID

Hi Actually, because of the normally large bellies it is hard to tell when the females are pregnant! The gorilla foetus is quite small (maybe just two kilos) and so does not add a great deal to the mother's girth! This small size also enables her to give birth quickly and easily.

Hi Elizabeth. You are quite right! In my view it is a problem of education - ie making EVERYONE aware that we ALL share this tiny blue dot in the universe with our 'fellow' organisms of all species. Our earth environment has evolved in a dynamic balance over eons - which we in a very short space of time have severely disrupted - due often to ignorance (and now greed!) I do hope we do not have to wait for a HUGE DISASTER to create a wider awareness of the problems. Like many scientists, I have tried in my research, writing, talks, presentations and teachings to show not only the beauty of 'nature' in balance - but the need to protect it. Not to 'preserve' it - as that is impossible as change (evolution) occurs anyway - but to MANAGE it, using the best scientific principles - for ALL species in our Biosphere. Once the balance gets past any 'tipping point' it will change rapidly - and may not be so 'benign' for humans!

If you are referring to Peanuts. It was a very difficult choice to make - as we had decided in the early days NOT to interfere with their natural behaviour (and it's consequences) as far as possible. For example if they had tooth abscesses. When Peanuts was obviously very ill the vet did intervene (I have photos of all this) but sadly he could not be saved.

@Dr Alan Goodall oh yeah, but if the one sick would’ve been a fucking human (over populated species) you would’ve ran to the rescue and do the impossible to save him or her, but since it was just a gorilla (species in danger of extinction thanks to humans) you disgusting people decided just to let him die...the excuses you posted to let such a loyal and precious creature die, when you clearly could’ve prevented it, only make sense in your dysfunctional brain. Humans are an egocentric, selfish, disloyal, ungrateful, and disgusting nasty pest. These gorillas are giving you the PRIVILEGE to let you be near them and film them and here it is, how do you repay them? You people let one of them die while having the resources to cure him. I am immensely ashamed and angry to belong to the same species you disgusting people belong as well! Unbelievable!!! The hard language I’ve just used in this comment, it’s just a mild way to express my disgust for humans. Unfortunately animals have had the disgrace to have to share this planet with this curse named humanity, poor animals!!!

@@therofthew HI If you had decided NOT to use 'expletives' and used any part of your obviously underused but racist brain - then you would have realised the stupidity - and OFFENSIVENESS of your comments! When you can show me - and others - ANYTHING useful and constructive YOU PERSONALLY have done to help our fellow species - or humanity - rather than spout crap from your couch. Then, maybe, you will deserve some RESPECT!!! Until then - if possible try and use what brain power you have - to THINK!!!

@@therofthew I am very sorry for your obviously limited life - and understanding and empathy with others! Great to hear you treat your cats well though. Have a look at the video of my three - feral cats who 'love' the way we interact. I have human friends too. But I do wish you WELL - especially in this hate filled world - inspired a great deal by an ignoramus - who just happens temporally to be in the most powerful position in the world! Hopefully, that will also change SOON! Go well - and go in PEACE

Dr Alan Goodall funny to see you mentioning “empathy” in your posting, when obviously you had none for that precious gorilla you abandoned just to watch him die!...and believe me, I do feel sorry for myself as well, having the disgrace, just like all animals, to have to share this planet with such arrogant and selfish individuals like your self, who behave like you have all the privilege and right to disregard beings of other species and to top it off you’re always right, right?

Actually it is not always the dominant male - sometimes the younger males 'sneak'!' If they were larger then they may have other huge problems. Natural Selection has allowed them to evolve into the best compromise size for their habitat and life style. As always with evolution - it is a compromise!

@@DrAlanGoodallisGorillaGoodall oh greàt, so you believe we all derived from a worm, into a fish, then a lizard, then a mouse and through natural selection, we just so happened to be lucky enough to stand up while we were apes to eat from taller trees? That's not so smart of you doc.

@@hellosweetheart3350 Hi Peanuts was not given Penicillin. INMHO being 'Smart' is being able to weigh up 'evidence' against 'beliefs' Thus the evidence for Evolution by Natural Selection (as opposed to any 'god like creation) is convincing - just as the evidence that Donald Trump is a liar and a con man - yet many just do not believe the evidence they see! You should read 'The God Delusion' by my colleague Dr Richard Dawkins. Whilst I am willing to believe that some two thousand years ago there was a Nelson Mandela like person - who may have been called Jesus - this does not make him 'godly' as the behaviour of Mandela did not make him holy - just exceptional! Sadly your education system has let you down badly if the only details of Evolution by Natural Selection is the 'route' you list! Even Charles Darwin's 'Tree of life' which he drew over a hundred and fifty years ago as a representation - is more realistic. And he did all that BEFORE we learned of DNA!

While I consider myself spiritual I also can’t deny what science has proven 🕊🙏🏻🦍

Of course - she is on the chimp side of my family and I am on the gorilla side!

Wonderful ❤

Wow you received a reply from Dr. Goodall himself !!!

Hi Jo and everyone My apologies for not keeping my replies up to date! I retired over ten years ago - but have still been active in helping Rwanda to recover from the terrible war and Genocide. In fact I became their diplomat in the Scottish Parliament and we completed some great projects together especially in Education (which I think is THE most important aspect of life in ALL countries. Many Scottish Universities gave free Scholarships - to well qualified female Rwandan students who already had a good degree. A lot of these students now have important jobs back in Rwanda - and there are some 52% of women in the Rwandan Parliament - the highest percentage in the world! So, the country is now a beacon of hope in Africa! In general now the gorillas are doing well, the population has greatly increased thanks to good protection - and they earn many millions of dollars each year for the economy. This is exactly what I said was need - when I wrote my own Doctoral Thesis in 1974, in numerous scientific papers - and in my book "The Wandering Gorillas" (which is now in an interactive version on iTunes) Unfortunately, Dian Fossey was totally against any tourism - and now you can imagine the negative effect that would have had on the Rwandan economy and jobs! Now, re Peanuts - he did not die from the eye infection, which was probably caused from an old wound during a fight. The vets later thought he died from a gut infection - but at that time a full autopsy was not performed. Teeth infections and abscesses must be fairly common - as I assume they were in early man. So, they had to put up with the pain! In Jozi's video you can see that she died from septicaemia - from the wound. After some illnesses I am glad to say that I am now fully recovered and hope to add some more videos in the next few months. The first will be about the remarkable Rwandan staff who worked with us at Karisoke in the early days and when I became Director after Dian's murder. They are the TRUE heroes of Karisoke - and, tragically, over a dozen died in the turmoil just after the war in 1994.

@@DrAlanGoodallisGorillaGoodall I had to laugh at popuss (however her name is spelled)and puck fighting. The one got really excited and couldn't wait to use the bathroom, hahaha! Anyways, I look forward to the videos you will be posting! We all appreciate your response, doesn't matter how late it was 😁😁

Hi Her name was Liza and the infant Gwiza. She had a tooth abscess - which recovered naturally and enabled her to raise Gwiza. Unfortunately, after I left I was unable to get further access to the research records - so I do not know how long she lived - or what happened to Gwiza. Maybe one of the later researchers at Karisoke can tell us all?? Many subscribers have asked about the gorillas who become injured - especially re the separate video of Jozi. Let me explain yet again. This was in the VERY early days of our studies of these rare gorillas - in their remote forest home. There was only one hospital - for humans - a long way away out of the forest! It was impossible to take any injured gorillas there! Luckily in late 1980's we started to have the help of Vets from USA, UK, Australia and other countries. A new Vet Centre was opened - just outside the park in 1988. The vets started to monitor all the gorillas - but only intervene if absolutely necessary. DESPITE what some people have written in other blogs here - They did their very best to help save Jozi. Sadly she died of septicaemia. Today there is a much better vet service - given by 'Gorilla Doctors' - you can search for them on Google - and donate to help them in their important work. I hope this clears up any further questions about how much we tried to help injured gorillas - then and now With best wishes to all my subscribers for 2020! Dr Alan PS Since the war and Genocide I have been trying to help the humans in Rwanda. Recently, especially those who were evicted from their forest home when the park was created for the gorillas. They used to be called Batwa - but now, after the new laws in Rwanda against ethnic divisions - they have to be called 'Historically Marginalised People'. You can find out more by searching on Google for AIMPO, and GOFUNDME re funding for a new school for Batwa in Rwanda. I hope you can help!

@@DrAlanGoodallisGorillaGoodall Have a happy 2020 doctor Goodall Thankyou for the explanation and for the interesting video.

@@mentayflor Hi Thank you Maria! I made many of these videos when I was Director of Karisoke Research Centre in 1988/89. Now I am 80 - and I am happy that so many are still enjoying them - and seeing some of the original research families! BUT - how I wish I could have had today's video technology - then! Even an iPhone!!!