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24-Year-Old Dominant Gorilla Meets A Tiny Creature In The Forest, And His Reaction Is Priceless
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24-Year-Old Dominant Gorilla Meets A Tiny Creature In The Forest, And His Reaction Is Priceless

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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.

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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”

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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

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Image credits: Ape Action Africa/Alex Benitez

People immediately fell in love with the gentle giant and the bush baby

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funkymattrocks avatar
stellermatt
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Hi, Disney? I've got an idea for a film I think you might like..."

varwenea avatar
varwenea
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Animals have such kind hearts. We don't give them enough credit.

carmenelena avatar
jlhall13 avatar
johanna_10 avatar
Lucida
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Good to hear that the bush baby returned safely. I have seen when a big monkey "adopted" a small monkey and although the big monkey was careful, it killed the small one by mistake.

wringej avatar
GlassOfWater
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"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"

bludragonfly63 avatar
Mika N
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So heart-warming! I love that he returned the bushbaby to the trees, that especially seems to me to show his care for it. He didn't try to keep it for his own amusement.

reverendblasphemy avatar
Rich Auntie Skeleton
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Bobo knows his own strength and was so gentle. One of his fingers was as big as that tiny bush baby.

diane1atk avatar
diane a
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That is just so sweet to see - unlike Chimpanzees Gorillas are not by nature vicious

sparkie1943 avatar
Dianne Clark
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Chimps are more closely related to humans than Gorillas, therefore more human like behaviors.

Load More Replies...
culmone10 avatar
Giovanni
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

reverendblasphemy avatar
Rich Auntie Skeleton
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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...
bronmargaret avatar
Magpie
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

" ..... 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.

annierorythompson avatar
ANNIE RORY THOMPSON
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

some people just don't realize that animals have feelings too and that they do care for other animals

annagsalerno avatar
Anna Salerno
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Awww this is adorable to see this tiny creature in this Gentle Giant's loving arms.

steve_pallister avatar
Abbass Muhammad
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

nikkid avatar
Nikki D
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

OK, usually I think gorillas are just terrifying, but this guy melted my heart.

adidasmmxx avatar
Ann Mozdzer
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Beautiful,just goes to show that the missing link between us and them .

trishthewitch avatar
Patricia Winkler
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thank you for posting this video and story about Bobo and his little playmate. It is a feel good experience in all aspects. 😍

kerahdah avatar
John Sampson
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yep, another reason why I prefer animals to people. We've a lot to learn to justify our place in creation.

philblanque avatar
phil blanque
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

lakithatolbert avatar
lakitha tolbert
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

sparkie1943 avatar
Dianne Clark
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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...
rebecahozuna avatar
Rebecah Ozuna
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

starrysora333 avatar
Sora Lyra
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is adorable. Look at how Bobo hold the bush baby carefully so that Bobo wouldn't hurt it.

ryu_bakura avatar
Ryo Bakura
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe Bobo knows something we don't. Like the Bush Baby is Dian Fossey reincarnated.

nql avatar
NQ L
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Animals are the best. Can't say the same about humans.

chenoa_oz avatar
Rhea Hambum
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I seriously thought the last shot was going to be a "dinner" shot..

cwa92464 avatar
cwa92464
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They didn't include the pic where the gorilla forgot to put down the wild bush baby before applauding for the trick it had done...GoJo coouldn't get it all off his fur.

taraso avatar
Taras O
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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!

imableever avatar
Jody Imableever
Community Member
5 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

The bible says animals have a soul, this proves it.

beejayw avatar
Ben Smith
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Where does it say that? Just curious as I've never heard that before.

Load More Replies...
funkymattrocks avatar
stellermatt
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Hi, Disney? I've got an idea for a film I think you might like..."

varwenea avatar
varwenea
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Animals have such kind hearts. We don't give them enough credit.

carmenelena avatar
jlhall13 avatar
johanna_10 avatar
Lucida
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Good to hear that the bush baby returned safely. I have seen when a big monkey "adopted" a small monkey and although the big monkey was careful, it killed the small one by mistake.

wringej avatar
GlassOfWater
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"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"

bludragonfly63 avatar
Mika N
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So heart-warming! I love that he returned the bushbaby to the trees, that especially seems to me to show his care for it. He didn't try to keep it for his own amusement.

reverendblasphemy avatar
Rich Auntie Skeleton
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Bobo knows his own strength and was so gentle. One of his fingers was as big as that tiny bush baby.

diane1atk avatar
diane a
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That is just so sweet to see - unlike Chimpanzees Gorillas are not by nature vicious

sparkie1943 avatar
Dianne Clark
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Chimps are more closely related to humans than Gorillas, therefore more human like behaviors.

Load More Replies...
culmone10 avatar
Giovanni
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

reverendblasphemy avatar
Rich Auntie Skeleton
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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...
bronmargaret avatar
Magpie
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

" ..... 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.

annierorythompson avatar
ANNIE RORY THOMPSON
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

some people just don't realize that animals have feelings too and that they do care for other animals

annagsalerno avatar
Anna Salerno
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Awww this is adorable to see this tiny creature in this Gentle Giant's loving arms.

steve_pallister avatar
Abbass Muhammad
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

nikkid avatar
Nikki D
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

OK, usually I think gorillas are just terrifying, but this guy melted my heart.

adidasmmxx avatar
Ann Mozdzer
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Beautiful,just goes to show that the missing link between us and them .

trishthewitch avatar
Patricia Winkler
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thank you for posting this video and story about Bobo and his little playmate. It is a feel good experience in all aspects. 😍

kerahdah avatar
John Sampson
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yep, another reason why I prefer animals to people. We've a lot to learn to justify our place in creation.

philblanque avatar
phil blanque
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

lakithatolbert avatar
lakitha tolbert
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

sparkie1943 avatar
Dianne Clark
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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...
rebecahozuna avatar
Rebecah Ozuna
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

starrysora333 avatar
Sora Lyra
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is adorable. Look at how Bobo hold the bush baby carefully so that Bobo wouldn't hurt it.

ryu_bakura avatar
Ryo Bakura
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe Bobo knows something we don't. Like the Bush Baby is Dian Fossey reincarnated.

nql avatar
NQ L
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Animals are the best. Can't say the same about humans.

chenoa_oz avatar
Rhea Hambum
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I seriously thought the last shot was going to be a "dinner" shot..

cwa92464 avatar
cwa92464
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They didn't include the pic where the gorilla forgot to put down the wild bush baby before applauding for the trick it had done...GoJo coouldn't get it all off his fur.

taraso avatar
Taras O
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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!

imableever avatar
Jody Imableever
Community Member
5 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

The bible says animals have a soul, this proves it.

beejayw avatar
Ben Smith
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Where does it say that? Just curious as I've never heard that before.

Load More Replies...
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