The Karisoke gorillas meet the Goodall family

This is the full clip of how the young gorilla came to meet my family on their first day back in the forest - after eighteen years! My daughter Fiona was only four months old when she first came to Karisoke in 1970. The research gorillas were not as well habituated to us in those early days! When I became Director of Karisoke my wife Margaret and I decided to take our two daughters to see their gorilla relatives.
This was their very first day back in the forest - and a complete surprise to them as the gorillas came to say their hello. This infant (Amohoro) took a liking to Marisa as she was the smallest I think!
These were priceless times for us. I have never shown any of this material before. I thought to do so would be unwise as other people may have tried to do the same with other free-living gorillas. This would have been dangerous for both gorillas and humans!
Today the tourists in Rwanda may go and see other - well habituated family groups of gorillas. Such visits are well organised and safe for everyone - though obviously you cannot have the gorillas on your lap these days. This is JUST to show how well habituated our research gorillas became - thanks to Dian Fossey, Bob Campbell and the Rwandan staff and other research students at Karisoke - after almost over 50 years now.

[@windowwatchers3303]

This was to cute

[@emilygroom8092]

Amazing video! Mum was so lucky! Wish I could have experienced it too xx

[@DrAlanGoodallisGorillaGoodall]

Hi Emily - Yes we were all very lucky and privileged to have these experiences in life with such rare animals - in their beautiful natural mountain forest habitat. I hope you can have such great experiences in your own chosen career. Love from Grandad XXX

[@josephburns8400]

The trust the gorillas have for her to allow the young ones to play with her like that is unbelievable

[@JohnnyGoodall-cs9yn]

Greetings from John Goodall, Alan is my grandads brother xx

[@jessiejames7492]

So adorable. They must be fsmiliar to the gorillas. The older one didnt mind either. Otherwise theyd charge.

[@marisagroom9292]

Hi Dad, I remember this like it was only a few years ago. It was a truly unique and appreciated moment in my life. You were always good at capturing these moments on camera. That young gorilla loved me! Animals just know don’t they - they are instinctive and intuitive.
Love, Marisa....I should probably mention that I have a much better hairstyle now 😉😂 (just to make you laugh xx)

[@DrAlanGoodallisGorillaGoodall]

Hi Marisa It is wonderful how some good memories seem eternal and easy to recall. I hope the videos and photos help, especially now that you and I live in different countries! Many comments have been made as to how lucky you were - in fact we all were - so share our lives with these rare mountain gorillas. And in ways that are not possible these days - mainly for good health reasons. But, we were always careful never to go near them if we had a cold!
I must post the video of how you, Fiona and mum had to walk through the forest (sometimes for hours) to reach the gorillas - and even cross raging mountain streams. It was never easy! And I won't say anything about you and Fiona not having a hairdryer at our remote camp in the forest at 10,000 feet!

[@JohnnyGoodall-cs9yn]

Greeting from John Goodall xx