Silverbacks are the leaders of their families, they call the shots and lead the defence of the rest of the group.
When the lions were in danger of being run out of their pride lands by a rival group, they sought a cynical alliance with the gorillas.
Gorillas are the largest primate species on our planet. Silverbacks, large males with ridiculously developed chests, a saddlebag of white hair on their backs and as large as 180kg, are the biggest gorillas. They are the leaders of their families, they call the shots and lead the defence of the rest of the group.
I saw a social media wildlife video of gorillas defending themselves against a full-grown lion male in his prime. The lion tore into a group of defenceless females and young gorillas, but before he could strike, he was confronted by a silverback in full glory on two legs. They locked forelegs, fangs bared. The gorilla threw back the lion and as they moved forward to engage again, scores of smaller gorilla males surrounded the lion, ready to tear it to pieces as soon as it locked arms with their leader. The lion took off in a great hurry. The gorillas had solid, fearless leadership from the silverback, the other males had discipline, strategy and trust in their silverback. The family was invincible.
