In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gordon Buchanan and his BBC crew intended to have unprecedented experiences with the endangered silverback gorillas. Despite this, none of them had expected such an extraordinary sighting. These majestic animals are so protective of their loved ones that the filmmakers, by chance, captured a glimpse of this.

When the crew saw the once-in-a-lifetime event, they were in Kahuzi-Biega National Park. Suddenly, an enormous silverback gorilla made its way out of the trees and into the path of their cameras. Everyone was in awe at the sight of the enormous ape, but they had no idea what it was up to.

Even though he’s being watched by a slew of people, the enormous man stuns as he stops in the middle of the road. He doesn’t seem to be alarmed by even a fully-loaded truck that was speeding towards him. This is where he has his stomping grounds. Once the road is safe for the entire family, the courageous male is the last one to make his way over, making his way through the bushes as his mother and younger siblings do the same.

Like other apes, silverback gorillas are fiercely protective of their young. They’re all willing to put their own lives on the line to defend their children.

Mother gorillas have often paid the ultimate price to defend their children from poachers.

To successfully reintroduce young gorillas rescued from the wild, “children learn so much from their mother and other troop members that it is quite tough.”

Here’s your chance to see it for yourself!