AND NOW FOR OUR CREATURE PRESENTATION
Looking back on Hollywood’s animal magic
AMUTANT gorilla is on the loose, hotly pursued by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in Rampage – today’s big movie release.
The genetically modified albino creature in the action blockbuster is the latest in a long history of apes on screen.
Primatologist Dr Cat Hobaiter, from St Andrews University, has worked with apes including chimpanzees and baboons for the past 14 years in East Africa, and has also consulted with motion capture experts recreating apes for video games.
She’s a big fan of modern apes on screen, as the technology means the film industry has left behind some of the cruel practices of using real animals on screen.
George the albino gorilla in Rampage is one of three CGI animals given huge strength, size and rage by a dangerous toxin.
Cat said: “You do get albino gorillas, like Snowflake, but he looks good and looks like they have done a decent job.
“Of all the apes, gorillas are the most zen-like chilled-out animals. If you have an ape on the rampage, it probably wouldn’t be a gorilla. But usually in these films, humans have done something really terrible.”
Here Cat, a contributor to the website greatapedictionary.com and whose work is featured in the Budongo Trail centre in Edinburgh Zoo, gives us her expert verdict on cinema’s biggest ape stars.