Africa's New Parks Zoom In @ National Geographic Magazine

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Africa's New Parks

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Free Ride
Photograph by Michael Nichols

Gabon's 13 new national parks will provide refuge to a wide range of species, including a small group of orphaned gorillas that are rediscovering how to live in the wild in Plateaux Batéké National Park. This six-year-old male, named Tonga (who appeared on the cover of National Geographic in February 2000), gives a comforting ride to a young female named Souba, who was recently introduced to the group. The animals may one day draw tourists to the park.

Camera: Canon EOS 1V
Film Type: Ektachrome 100
Lens: 35mm f/1.4
Speed and F-Stop: 1/30 @ f/2

Weather Conditions: Deep Forest
Time of Day: 2 p.m.
Lighting Techniques: Available light
Special Equipment or Comments: The key to photographing gorillas is to move slowly, get down on their level, and not make too much eye contact. You definitely do not want to interact, it's not good for their future to trust humans.