TRACKING GORILLAS BY NIGHT

Evening Star, Issue 21138, 25 June 1932, Page 5

TRACKING GORILLAS BY NIGHT

Carl Akcley, the African naturalist and explorer, did a great service to the animal world when ho persuaded tho Belgian Government to set aside a .sanctuary in Contra! Africa for gorillas. All and more than he dreamed of has come true, for tho Albert National Park covers five hundred thousand acres, and is many times larger than tin; sanctuary of his dreams. Not only gorillas, hut lions, leopards, elephants, hippos, buffalo, and hosts of smaller creatures have this region of glorious country to themselves. Human being may only enter on .sufferance; the big game hunter finds the way into this garden of Eden barred by the guardian angel of charity. Mr Martin Johnson, who was one of Carl Akelcy’s friends, with a party of other sportsmen in the best sense of the word, lately spent a fortnight in this most wonderful park in the world. They went in search of gorillas, not to harm them hut to photograph them and find out more about these mild-mannered and rarely ferocious creatures for which Carl AkeIcy had such an a Heel ion that ho was buried near their haunts. About two hundred porters and guides accompanied the expedition. 'They arc all needed, for the Albert National Park is no more like a muni-

cipal park than a whale is like a tadpole. Vast tracts of forest and jungle and miles of plains and valleys are within its boundaries, besides the mountainous country with many volcanoes where the gorillas live. It was no easy matter to feed the members of the party, for in the protected area nobody is allowed to kill any animal for food; all supplies must be drawn from the outside world.

Adventures began very soon after they had started. One night, when all his comrades were asleep, Dewitt, one of the most daring members of the party, crept out of the camp in the hope of seeing some wild animals at close range. He was disappointed, for all was dark and silent. He was on his way back when he stopped suddenly. On all sides he saw eyes, seeming to have appeared from nowhere, glaring at him. They cut off his retreat, and as he had neither gun nor flashlight ho dared not go backward or forward. Ho stood in the midst of the silent presences and shouted desperately for help. His friends arrived, and by the light of their flashlights they saw nine lions standing round the scared man. Fortunately they were not hungry, and presently without a sound the great cats vanished into the darkness as suddenly as they had emoe. Another night there were loud shrieks and barks from a family of gorillas. The next day Mr Johnson found a group of nests, which are roughly built each night by these animals of sticks and grass. They were all in disorder. Near by were footprints of two large leopards. They had evidently been trying to steal gorilla babies, which are probably as dainty morsels to leopards as. monkeys and baboons.

Day after day Mr Johnson and his party wont long distances tracking gorillas. They noticed that these creatures never seem to drink at streams or water-holes like other animals. Apparently they find enough water in the hamboo shoots and buds of certain trees and bushes, and in the bitter wild celery so abundant hero, which is their favourite food.

Afterwards the party made a pilgrimage to the grave of Carl Akeley. They climbed Mount Mikeno by an almost impossible new route through forest and jungle. Sometimes they heard bands of gorillas smashing through the bamboos. It was a steep climb, and when they had reached 11,500 feet they were exhausted. At last they came to the high and lonely grave with the simple slab on which is written: Carl Akelev. November 17. 1920.

The next day the clouds in which they had been enveloped rolled away. The sun shone, and below them, lit up by an almost unearthly radiance, they saw the panorama of the mountains and plains and jungles of Africa which Carl Akeley declared to be the most beautiful view in the world.