BABY EYES. Mountain gorilla. 12x10 inches. AVAILABLE FROM COTSWOLD CONTEMPORARY
This is a baby Mountain gorilla from the Virunga Mountains in Rwanda. I have only been twice, but trekking up the mountain and through the thick jungle scrub is quite an experience - especially when you come face to face with a giant silverback! It seems remarkable that visitors can do this; there are no barriers or fences; you are right there standing a couple of meters away. You are also briefed beforehand not to make direct eye contact with the adults as they may see it as a threat. Your heart will be pounding (a silverback can easily kill you) while you fumble with your camera! This, and my first wild tiger sighting in Bandhavgarh, India, will always sit as the most rewarding wildlife experiences of my career.