What Counts in the End

“I Said No Photos!”

Gorillas are peaceful fellows. Really. But if they are disturbed at a private party, things can get pretty dicey for the paparazzi. As this photo shows…

To call the party exclusive would be an understatement. Tucked away from the outside world, Akarevuro parties hard, in the truest sense of the expression, with his troop. For hours the gorillas have been eating their fill of bamboo shoots— and appear to have indulged in fermented fruit, as they seem drunk. The revelers rage, screaming and stumbling. Even 550-pound Akarevuro takes a tumble while trying to walk straight— not very becoming behavior for a majestic silverback gorilla. Fortunately the group is alone in the jungle of Rwanda’s mountainous Volcanoes National Park… There are no tourists watching the animals, no film crews setting up their cameras, no paparazzi. But wait— was that a clicking sound coming from the bushes just now? Yes. However the photographer got here, he’s suddenly right in front of the spirited partygoers, ruthlessly pressing the shutter. Again and again. Click, click, click. Behind the lens is Christophe Courteau, one of the best nature paparazzi in the world, who has sold photos to dozens of magazines— and these shots of the private gorilla party could be particularly valuable. This is when Akarevuro sees red. The extremely excited alpha male gorilla runs toward Courteau and wallops the totally overpowered paparazzo with a hard right hook. “It was like a rugby player running right at me with full force,” recalls the 54-year-old. But the fact is: Had Akarevuro been serious, Courteau probably would not be alive. One blow can be fatal, because the impact force of a male gorilla is six times higher than that of a pro boxer. Apparently Akarevuro just wanted to teach the paparazzo a lesson. After the attack he turns away from Courteau, who makes use of the opportunity to flee. The photographer now knows: Great apes do not tolerate any press at their parties. But the mighty jungle dwellers couldn’t prevent these pictures…