Earning the trust of a 40-stone silverback gorilla

When a wildlife cameraman was invited to film the gradual exposure of a gorilla family to humans, deep in the forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo, he got a little too close for comfort to the group's alpha male.

Suddenly, the giant silverback – known as Mpungwe – charged at him with a shriek.

But, despite being terrified, Vianet Djenguet knew the almost 40-stone (254kg) primate didn’t want to hurt him. It was a test.

Anyone attempting to earn Mpungwe’s trust and become a friend needed to show respect.

“That charge is a way of saying, ‘Look I’ve got a family here, so back off’,” says Djenguet.

“But if you…