Episode Information

In legend the fearsome male gorilla was something to fear. Power is in his fist and experience written in his fur; the iconic ‘silverback’. He stands about as tall as a man, but weighs more than twice as much – most of it muscle.

The silverback will use his incredible power to defend his family. He is the dominant animal in a troop of about a dozen. Gorillas quickly learn to recognise one another, providing safety and strength within the group and keeping the clan together.

Gorillas are like us in so many ways. They have similar growth rates, nurture their young and accumulate an impressive knowledge through experience. But human interference has led them to the brink of extinction. We are pushing them out of existence, but why should we care? Spend just a day in the company of a typical gorilla family and you’ll soon see why.