24-Year-Old Dominant Gorilla Meets A Tiny Creature In The Forest, And His Reaction Is Priceless
Ape Action Africa, a non-profit dedicated to the conservation of endangered gorillas, chimpanzees, and monkeys, was founded in 1996, but their ape inhabitants are still finding new ways to surprise these experienced caregivers. Recently, Bobo, a Western Lowland Gorilla that was rescued by the organization in the same 1996, made a new friend, and their relationship is probably the most unusual you could imagine.
“On his morning checks, our gorilla caregiver discovered Bobo cradling a young, wild bush baby,” Ape Action Africa spokeswoman Elissa O’Sullivan told Bored Panda. “The bush baby showed no fear of Bobo, moving around his body and spending time hopping around in an open grassy area, before choosing to return to Bobo.”
You see, Bobo is the dominant male of his group, which includes 3 females and 3 males. Younger males Kibu and Nkamum have challenged Bobo for his position, but were never successful and no longer attempt to take control. Now, however, it is clear that the giant has a gentle side too.
“Bush babies are usually nocturnal, so it is very rare to see one during the day. We have never witnessed a wild primate interacting with a rescued one at Mefou Sanctuary.”
Even Bobo’s gang was interested in what was happening. “Bobo’s group-mates were curious about the bush baby and hoped that he might share it with them, but Bobo kept the bush baby to himself.” All in all, they spent at least two hours together before Bobo returned his new friend to a set of trees within his enclosure, and the bush baby disappeared from view.
With more than 300 primates in its care, Ape Action Africa is now one of the largest conservation projects of its kind in Africa. Many of the animals find themselves at the sanctuary as orphans, due mainly to the illegal bushmeat and pet trades. Both threats have grown in recent years as a result of deforestation, and international demand for exotic meat and live animals as pets and zoo exhibits. To learn more about their fight and donate to the cause, click here.
More info: apeactionafrica.org | Facebook
This is Bobo, a 24-year-old Western Lowland Gorilla that was rescued by Ape Action Africa in 1996
Image credits: Apes Like Us/Gerry Ellis
Recently, Bobo made a new friend, and their unusual relationship surprised everyone
Image credits: Ape Action Africa/Alex Benitez
“On his morning checks, our gorilla caregiver discovered Bobo cradling a young, wild bush baby”
Image credits: Ape Action Africa/Alex Benitez
“The bush baby showed no fear of Bobo, moving around his body and spending time hopping around in an open grassy area, before choosing to return to Bobo”
Image credits: Ape Action Africa/Alex Benitez
“Bobo’s group-mates were curious about the bush baby and hoped that he might share it with them, but Bobo kept the bush baby to himself”
Image credits: Ape Action Africa/Alex Benitez
They spent at least two hours together before Bobo returned his new friend to a set of trees within his enclosure, and the bush baby disappeared from view
Watch the videos below to learn more about the duo
Image credits: Ape Action Africa/Alex Benitez
Image credits: Ape Action Africa/Alex Benitez
Image credits: Ape Action Africa/Alex Benitez
People immediately fell in love with the gentle giant and the bush baby
Yes totally reminds me of Koko too- She loved her kitties! RIP Koko
Load More Replies..."Bobo's group-mates were curious about the bush baby and hoped that he might share it with them, but Bobo kept the bush baby to himself"
Bobo knows his own strength and was so gentle. One of his fingers was as big as that tiny bush baby.
That is just so sweet to see - unlike Chimpanzees Gorillas are not by nature vicious
Chimps are more closely related to humans than Gorillas, therefore more human like behaviors.
Load More Replies...Why are some people so eager to talk s**t about humanity? I bet that they are the same people that regularly rescue kittens or whatever (proving themselves wrong in the process). It's always a mix of lights and shadows, never forget it.
You're right. I'm remembering that video of the man risking his life to rescue a bunny from a wildfire. People aren't so bad, why are we so hard on ourselves.
Load More Replies..." ..... Both threats have grown in recent years as a result of deforestation, and international demand for exotic meat and live animals as pets ..." Be aware that exotic pet you are craving will have be gotten by horrible methods. Babies stolen from their communities and families, Often the adult animals ( birds and snakes included) will have been killed to get to the eggs / babies.
some people just don't realize that animals have feelings too and that they do care for other animals
Awww this is adorable to see this tiny creature in this Gentle Giant's loving arms.
No all people are as bad as many are saying. This is beautiful and no surprise to me. However there is no less love and compassion to be found among many human beings too.
Beautiful,just goes to show that the missing link between us and them .
Thank you for posting this video and story about Bobo and his little playmate. It is a feel good experience in all aspects. 😍
Yep, another reason why I prefer animals to people. We've a lot to learn to justify our place in creation.
It just shows that just you are the supreme ruler in your world, you do not need to dominate others with cruelty, unless, of course your dominance is as president of the United States, under which cruel dominance is your hobby.
What I find disheartening is so many nasty comparisons to humans in these comments. Many Humans ARE like this, or we wouldnt exist as a race. What we have is a relatively small contingent of seriously damaged humans who are harming the rest of us. Yes, it’s heartwarming to see this, but Most humans would’ve cared for the bush baby and put it back in the trees or taken it to some care place, and it would never have made the news at all, which shows you how common that is, and what our expectations are for human beings. Our expectations for Bobo are that he would’ve hurt it, despite all our kind words about him, and we are surprised that he didn’t. Just like Bobos mates, a small contingent of humanity would also have killed it for fun. Don’t indict all of humanity as heartless just because a handful of humans are a$$holes.
I agree. We need kindness to prevail. Right now it seems that human violence and cruelty are rampant in our Society, whether that is true or not, kindness is not in the news much.
Load More Replies...When the human race learn to have such acceptance people giving both negative and positive comments, we'll be earning our right in Heaven. But people are people, we'll only embrace ideas that look similar to our own, and reject any other that's different. Which makes me question on why does people embrace different types of people (race, gender, age, creed) but refuse to accept people with different ideas to their own? Until we stop feeling our hearts with hate, we don't deserve to be called humans.
Maybe Bobo knows something we don't. Like the Bush Baby is Dian Fossey reincarnated.
It's all fun and games until the Gorilla decides it's not fun anymore and kills the poor thing.....like KoKo and her kittens!
Koko never killed any of her kittens. All-ball got hit by a car.
Load More Replies...Where does it say that? Just curious as I've never heard that before.
Load More Replies...Yes totally reminds me of Koko too- She loved her kitties! RIP Koko
Load More Replies..."Bobo's group-mates were curious about the bush baby and hoped that he might share it with them, but Bobo kept the bush baby to himself"
Bobo knows his own strength and was so gentle. One of his fingers was as big as that tiny bush baby.
That is just so sweet to see - unlike Chimpanzees Gorillas are not by nature vicious
Chimps are more closely related to humans than Gorillas, therefore more human like behaviors.
Load More Replies...Why are some people so eager to talk s**t about humanity? I bet that they are the same people that regularly rescue kittens or whatever (proving themselves wrong in the process). It's always a mix of lights and shadows, never forget it.
You're right. I'm remembering that video of the man risking his life to rescue a bunny from a wildfire. People aren't so bad, why are we so hard on ourselves.
Load More Replies..." ..... Both threats have grown in recent years as a result of deforestation, and international demand for exotic meat and live animals as pets ..." Be aware that exotic pet you are craving will have be gotten by horrible methods. Babies stolen from their communities and families, Often the adult animals ( birds and snakes included) will have been killed to get to the eggs / babies.
some people just don't realize that animals have feelings too and that they do care for other animals
Awww this is adorable to see this tiny creature in this Gentle Giant's loving arms.
No all people are as bad as many are saying. This is beautiful and no surprise to me. However there is no less love and compassion to be found among many human beings too.
Beautiful,just goes to show that the missing link between us and them .
Thank you for posting this video and story about Bobo and his little playmate. It is a feel good experience in all aspects. 😍
Yep, another reason why I prefer animals to people. We've a lot to learn to justify our place in creation.
It just shows that just you are the supreme ruler in your world, you do not need to dominate others with cruelty, unless, of course your dominance is as president of the United States, under which cruel dominance is your hobby.
What I find disheartening is so many nasty comparisons to humans in these comments. Many Humans ARE like this, or we wouldnt exist as a race. What we have is a relatively small contingent of seriously damaged humans who are harming the rest of us. Yes, it’s heartwarming to see this, but Most humans would’ve cared for the bush baby and put it back in the trees or taken it to some care place, and it would never have made the news at all, which shows you how common that is, and what our expectations are for human beings. Our expectations for Bobo are that he would’ve hurt it, despite all our kind words about him, and we are surprised that he didn’t. Just like Bobos mates, a small contingent of humanity would also have killed it for fun. Don’t indict all of humanity as heartless just because a handful of humans are a$$holes.
I agree. We need kindness to prevail. Right now it seems that human violence and cruelty are rampant in our Society, whether that is true or not, kindness is not in the news much.
Load More Replies...When the human race learn to have such acceptance people giving both negative and positive comments, we'll be earning our right in Heaven. But people are people, we'll only embrace ideas that look similar to our own, and reject any other that's different. Which makes me question on why does people embrace different types of people (race, gender, age, creed) but refuse to accept people with different ideas to their own? Until we stop feeling our hearts with hate, we don't deserve to be called humans.
Maybe Bobo knows something we don't. Like the Bush Baby is Dian Fossey reincarnated.
It's all fun and games until the Gorilla decides it's not fun anymore and kills the poor thing.....like KoKo and her kittens!
Koko never killed any of her kittens. All-ball got hit by a car.
Load More Replies...Where does it say that? Just curious as I've never heard that before.
Load More Replies...
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