A Special Youngster

I "met" a very special male gorilla when he was six years old. He weighed in at about 180 pounds and was looking for those who would play with him.

I would try to be the first one in the park on the days I went. He would be waiting the first place I could see him then would race for the first viewing window. From there, he would chase back and forth between the two windows tapping it wherever I was. I think he was just saying "Hi".

If I would be close to the glass but not paying any attention to him, he would hit it right where I was. Do you suppose he was thinking "Hey, remember me?"

I could "call" him to the glass by putting my hand high up on the glass. Most of the time he would come. (Remember, he was just six - still just a kid.)

One day I was sitting at the glass with my chin in my hands. I fell asleep. All of a sudden, I felt someone was watching me. When I opened my eyes, there he was squatting with his chin in his hands. It was all I could do to keep from laughing. (Don't ever laugh at a gorilla. That is aggressive to them.) I wish I had a camera with me that day.

He is now grown. I had been away from him for over two years. He still lets me know he sees me but no longer does any more than that. He has grown up I had watched him grow for about seven years.

Once I tell you all I remember, I will then get into my gorilla logs. No telling what is in there that I have forgotten.