Page 24 - 2017 RWANDA

This group was much more active than the "Anniversary Family!" There

were a couple of teenagers that are called "Troublemakers" by the

guides and rangers because, just like teenage boys, they run around

trying to pick fights with others. They make a charge at each other

straight on or better still sneakily. Then they pull fur or slap around.

Constantly teasing someone else. Adult females don't pay them much
mind unless they get too close to a really young gorilla and that

behavior they don't tolerate.

Of course, the "troublemakers" are like human bullies; they never pick

fights with the big fellows—especially not with the silverbacks. Besides

the big guy in charge, there were two young males just beginning to

show the silvering fur on their backs. When they are mature, they will
be driven out of the family to go find a new one for themselves. That's

how Mother Nature prevents inbreeding and keeps the gene pool as

rich as possible!

One of the most amazing experiences on this day was that Kay was told

to go sit next to a female who was sitting up on the little rise where all

of us humans were arranged. (We could sit during the observation time
on this trek.) Kay looked askance at Loyce because we had been told

not to approach the gorillas or touch them or even stare at them

lingeringly. And here's the guide prompting her to scoot over next to

the young female. So Kay carefully moved over next to her. She said

that the young female looked at her for a few seconds and then went
back to her own thoughts while slowly munching on a piece of tree. A

little later, she pushed herself up and went down to join the family

again in the little depression where they were nested. Kay was never

even aware when she left her side; she was that quiet and deliberate.