Two massive mountain gorillas sit nestled in lush green mountain foliage, munching on fresh leaves with a misty, cloud-shrouded volcanic mountain peak towering in the background

Mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei), a silverback and a younger companion

Giants of the Mist

High within the cloud-shrouded Virunga Massif of East-Central Africa, a profound stillness envelops a family of mountain gorillas as they forage along the steep, emerald slopes.

David S. McMeans · Sony Alpha 7R V · Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II telephoto zoom

Volcanoes National Park, Northern Province, Rwanda

Image

Giants of the Mist

High within the cloud-shrouded Virunga Massif of East-Central Africa, a profound stillness envelops a family of mountain gorillas as they forage along the steep, emerald slopes. Framed by the towering, primeval silhouette of a dormant volcano rising out of the mist, a massive silverback and his companion sit nestled in a dense bed of wild celery and thistles, carefully selecting the choice greens that fuel their immense bodies. These gentle giants, whose survival hangs in a delicate balance against habitat loss and human encroachment, are perfectly adapted to the thin air and cold rains of this high-altitude rainforest sanctuary. As low-hanging clouds drift lazily through the canopy, the quiet cracking of vegetation and the deep, rhythmic breathing of the primates serve as an intimate testament to the enduring majesty of one of earth's rarest and most magnificent species.

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