APES with Altitude was the title of a fascinating illustrated talk by Phred Newbury, on behalf of the Gorilla Organization, at the first monthly meeting of the newly formed Shipston on Stour Area U3A.

Phred explained that for many years she had a poster of ‘Nudume’, a silverback mountain gorilla, on her office wall. His look shows ‘attitude’ and he lives at ‘altitude’. A trip to Rwanda to see mountain gorillas was advertised in the BBC Wildlife Magazine and the photographer of Phred’s poster, Ian Redmond was the tour leader. As a result a visit was arranged for Phred to meet Nudume.

“Seeing the very gorilla who’s picture I’d had on my office wall was as exciting as if I’d met a film star,” she said. Thus began a fascination with gorillas.

Central Africa is the only area where the gorillas live in the wild.

Mountain gorillas are critically endangered, now believed to be 880 in number in the world. Until very recently numbers were as low as 650. There are no mountain gorillas in captivity other than a few rescued infants and it is hoped they will be returned to the wild. All species of gorillas are under threat in the wild. They face a number of perils, including war, deforestation, being caught in illegal snares and contracting human diseases to which they have no immunity.

Gorillas are peaceful herbivores, not the aggressive creatures of myth and legend. They deserve to be protected for their own sake, and to maintain their habitat.

Phred concluded her talk with: “Gorillas allow us in to their world peacefully, but sadly it is humans that betray their trust. It is just as well that they now have many friends.”