THE GORILLA'S CHEST-BEATING
Why does a gorilla beat its chest? It depends on the gorilla - and on the
situation. In some instances, the flamboyant and intimidating gesture may be just
what it seems: a warning to keep away. When truly aroused, the leader of the gorilla
troop rises and drums his chest rapidly, palms open and slightly cupped. Then he
explodes into a charge which may or may not be a bluff. Scientists who have been
charged at by gorillas report that the animals almost always stop
short of violence - unless the human intruder responds in a
hostile manner. Sometimes chest-beating is only an
expression of relief after the danger has passed, a means
of keeping in touch with other gorillas in the troop, or a way
of warning other troops away from the feeding area. Some
gorillas, especially the young ones, often beat their chests
as expressions of high spirits. One thing the gorilla does not
do is stage a victory celebration by drumming furiously on his
chest after he has just cracked an opponent's spine. That sort
of thing happens only in the movies.
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