Champions of the Wild: Gorillas

Gorillas spend most of their day foraging for stuff like wild celery (unlike chimpanzees, gorillas are not carnivorous), share 99% of the same genetic material as humans, and--pencils out please, because this is the really important part--pass gas with impressive force and duration. Okay, I admit that if you substitute "beer" for "wild celery," the same could be said of the American Male (Homo slurpiens), but I suspect that gorillas, on the whole, are probably better-mannered. In this episode from the Champions of the Wild series, which aired on Animal Planet, anthropologist Pascale Sicotte returns to war-torn Rwanda to continue the work begun by the late, legendary Dian Fossey. Working in a sanctuary which protects over 100 mountain gorillas (a little less than one-third of the whole world population), Sicotte studies the behavioral habits of the mountain gorilla both as individuals and as members of mini-societies. Viewers will see Sicotte interacting with the mountain gorillas, explaining various behaviors (such as the noted chest-pounding of male gorillas) and, of course, her amused reaction when one of the gorillas makes an audible bid for the title of Lord of the Jungle Sphincter. On the more serious side, there's also a good reminder to budding environmental activists that the mountain gorilla's numbers are not legion; losing this evolutionary link would be a devastating blow to modern anthropology. Recommended. [Note: Teachers should be forewarned that there is a brief scene of gorillas mating in what is technically known as the "monkey business" position.] Other titles in the 13 part series include: Sharks, Grizzlies, Wolves, Pandas, Orcas, Dolphins and Orangutans. The entire series is available for $999 (which brings the per tape cost down to about $77). Aud: I, J, H, P. (R. Pitman)