Touched by a Wild Mountain Gorilla - Kyla Wyryha

In Africa, there are lots of safari trips to see and experience many different types of endangered animals. Myself and two other friends decided to go check out the Wild Mountain Gorilla safari. We wanted to see how they lived in captivity. When we got to the building with the gorillas we were surprised how we could walk in and see the gorillas in no cage or anything! Of course no one wanted to go up to one though. Especially when the silverback was around. The gorillas looked like they would easily turn around and whack you with their hairy hands. My friend bent down to tie his shoe and before he could finish the bow, my other friends quietly told him to remain still. Suddenly everyone was looking at the five gorillas, including the silverback, staring down my friend with the untied shoe. He slowly lifted his head and you could see the fear rush over his face as he made eye contact with the silverback. I quickly handed my video camera to my friend and told him to get this on tape. The gorillas slowly made their way to my friend with the untied shoe and surrounded him. My friends and I were watching cautiously. My friend with the untied shoe then slowly tried to stand up and get away but not even three seconds later he was pushed back down into the crouching position. He now placed his head in his hands and I could tell he was freaking out on the inside. The next thing that happened was unexpected. The gorilla directly behind my friend with the untied shoe leaned forward and began hugging him. One by one the other gorillas, including the silverback, began hugging him until they formed on big group hug. My friend with the untied shoe then looked up at us and smiled. We all smiled back and then the gorillas began letting go and the silverback lead a train of gorillas down the path. My friend then tied his shoe and ran to us and hugged us. He claimed that he thought he was going to die and regretted coming on this safari but then his mindset completely changed once the gorillas embraced him. Later that day, we all watched the video and laughed at how things can be so unexpected.