Earning the trust of a 40-stone silverback gorilla

In the dense forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo, a wildlife cameraman named Vianet Djenguet was tasked with filming a gorilla family's gradual exposure to humans. During this process, he found himself uncomfortably close to the group's alpha male, a massive silverback gorilla known as Mpungwe. Suddenly, Mpunguet charged at Djenguet with a terrifying shriek. Despite his fear, Djenguet understood that this was a test. Mpungwe didn't intend to harm him; he was merely asserting his dominance. To earn Mpungwe's trust, Djenguet had to demonstrate respect.

After the charge, Mpungwe reached out and grabbed Djenguet's foot. The cameraman was quick to pull away, but not before feeling the immense strength of the gorilla's grip. Following this encounter, Mpungwe retreated into the dense foliage of the forest. Djenguet was invited to meet Mpungwe by conservationists working in the Kahuzi-Biega National Park. Their goal was to document the process of habituation, which involves acclimating the gorilla family to the presence of humans. This process can take anywhere from two to ten years and requires tracking and following the gorillas through the vast forest. The success of habituation hinges on the acceptance of the alpha male. If the silverback accepts the humans, his family will follow suit.

Mpungwe and his family are among the last remaining eastern lowland gorillas in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The ultimate goal of habituation is to prevent their extinction. If the process is successful, tourists will be able to visit the gorilla family, providing a source of income to aid in the protection of the gorillas and their habitat. This is the second attempt at habituating Mpungwe, as a previous attempt in 2015 was unsuccessful. As a young gorilla, Mpungwe was part of a habituated family, but he was orphaned in 1996 during a civil war. He roamed the forest alone until he encountered other gorilla families and eventually formed his own.