Mountain Gorilla

Gentle giant of the great apes Close to humans in spirit and nature Same sympathy with love of family Mighty vegetarian walking the Congo Hunted and endangered. Massive silver-backed male Father and protector Too heavy to sleep up in the trees Sleeps on the jungle floor While family sleeps above. Babies clinging to mothers' backs Carried through the jungle With silver-back on lookout for danger Leading his family group of nine Moving furtively from place to place. Villagers of the Congo Hunt and kill gorillas for meat Trading skins on the black market While hunters kidnap the young Selling them to zoos for display. Days of the gorilla are numbered Soon only found caged in zoos Gentle giants forever captive Paraded for entertainment Cousins of humans and jailed in misery