Kongo and Kumba: Two Gorillas
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| Deep inside Central Africa lies a chain of eight tall mountains. Two of the Virunga Mountains are active volcanoes. Not many animals live there, and the plants are few and tough. The other six mountains are volcanoes too. But they no longer erupt. On these mountains the rich volcanic soil and the moist air have produced thick green jungles of plant life. Many animals make their homes in the mountain jungles—buffaloes, antelope, elephants, leopards. There too live some of the last of the wild gorillas. One morning a group of seventeen mountain gorillas sat feeding on a mountain slope. The warm sun had chased the cold mists of night and dried the animals’ gleaming black fur. There was more than enough food— wild celery, Galium vines, thistles, berries and leaves—to satisfy the largest gorilla appetite. Even the leader of the group, an enormous male with silver fur on his back, was relaxed and content. Suddenly an eight-year-old female dropped the stalk of wild celery she held and stood up. A look of pain came into her gentle brown eyes. She looked around the group. Then she turned and hurried out of the clearing. | ||||
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| Kumba seemed to enjoy almost anything that allowed her to be touched by her foster mothers. She sat quietly and happily while she was being brushed. She was also ticklish. When someone tickled her she rolled around on the floor, laughing until she lost her breath. Most of Kumba’s foster mothers could not bring themselves to punish her even when she deserved it. Only a few would slap her lightly when she played with her food or when she chewed her diaper. But a light slap almost always made her behave—for a while anyway. Kumba was a friendly baby, but she liked some people more than others. Her feelings for a person did not depend on whether that person punished her. In fact, some of her favorite people were those who permitted no nonsense. If Kumba liked you she would reach for your hand and lick it. She often did this with the many children who came to see her. By the time Kumba was one year old she had become a sweet and trusting, but stubborn and spoiled child. She did exactly as she pleased and often refused to do things for herself. She preferred to cling tightly to a foster mother and act like a big baby. | ||||
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Kongo and Kumba
Two Gorillas
96 pages, black & white
6.5" x 9", hardcover
reinforced binding
Autographed by Alice Schick
Two Gorillas
96 pages, black & white
6.5" x 9", hardcover
reinforced binding
Autographed by Alice Schick
