Out of the thick forest, a loud grunt signals the presence of Kingo, a 200 kg silverback gorilla, sitting on the forest floor calling to his group. Kingo Ya Bole, which means “The Loud Voice”, calls constantly to his group, but when agitated he inflates his chest and builds up a hooting crescendo delivered with a chest beat which can travel for hundreds of meters.  First identified in 1999, Kingo was chosen to be habituated by researchers interested in learning more about the behavior and ecology of Western Lowland Gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla).

Male gorillas start to become adults around the age of 16 years old, developing grey hair on their backs as they mature, which is why a fully adult gorilla is called a ‘silverback’. Around the age of 18 they leave their birth group and range alone for some years seeking females to create a breeding group. When Kingo was first reliably followed (by April 2001) he was already an adult silverback estimated to be over 20 years old, with 6 adult females, 1 juvenile female, and 2 infants.

Over the last 17 years we have had the privilege to witness the daily life of Kingo and his family. We have observed him as a fierce defender of his females, sustaining wounds in a fight with another silverback, and also as a tender, attentive father, babysitting his infants while their mothers feed out of sight, and never leaving the side of his infant son Aimé when he was gravely injured from a tree fall. Kingo is a calm silverback, who sits down and caresses his right hand with his left thumb while looking into the distance. He hums when feeding, either to express his satisfaction, or warn the rest of the family to keep away from ‘his’ food. He naps frequently, often sticking his feet in the air and holding them with his hands. While looking after the young ones, he often stops the older ones when they play too roughly with the infants. He follows his females reluctantly into the swamps and washes the plants before feeding on them, the young ones imitating him.

Kingo has had 10 females during the 17 years that we have known him, nine of whom have produced infants. Only one, Mekome, has stayed with him throughout her life. In 2011 during an interaction with our 2^nd habituated group (Buka’s group), Kingo abducted one of Buka’s daughters, a young female called Mokombe, who now is one of the 2 adult females in his group, mother of his infant Aimé. In the last two years, four females have left him, leaving their weaned infants behind for Kingo to protect. Now only old Mekome and younger Mokombe, both with young infants, are still with Kingo. Unfortunately Mekomé’s infant Stevi was injured in a treefall this year and died two days later.  At that time, as well as when his juvenile sons Ike and Itephie were injured by  leopard attacks and the infant Aimé was injured by a treefall, Kingo stayed with them, watching their wounds, walking with them, resting next to them, and chasing away curious group members from the injured infants.

Although life can seem idyllic for a gorilla; feeding, napping, and playing most of the day, it also has many dangers that keep them vigilant. Infant mortality amongst lowland gorillas is high, thought to be as high as 65% for infants under 4 years old. Leopard attacks, disease, falling from trees, infections, aggressive attacks from other silverbacks, and falling branches or even large fruit are constant risks for all gorillas, but especially the young. In his lifetime Kingo has fathered 20 infants, but tragically 13 have died, most under the age of 3 years. Only one of his daughters has so far survived to emigrate to a new group. The rest of his remaining 6 offspring are still with him. Three of them are already subadults of 8-12 years old and will hopefully grow up and leave to start their own families. His 8 year-old daughter Kenga is already getting the attention of other silverbacks.

Kingo in 2002 (left) and today (right). 

Kingo can be seen just as a wild animal, a great ape, a species fighting extinction, one amongst thousands. But to the Mondika researchers and trackers who spend their years with him, Kingo is family. We laugh when they play, we cry over their deaths, we hold our breath when one is injured, and we fight to protect them.

On the occasion of his (estimated) 40^th birthday, we wish Kingo many more years of life in good health and more offspring growing up under his watchful eye. It is a privilege and a pleasure to share his life with him.

Happy 40^th Birthday dear Kingo!