Classic Silverback Behaviour: Tambaby’s Secret Snack Heist & Kifu’s All-Seeing Eyes
Life, love, and a little mischief at our gorilla sanctuary
There are some scenes at our sanctuary that play out like clockwork—rhythms so familiar that I could probably predict them down to the second. One of the most iconic, the one that always makes me laugh no matter how many times I’ve seen it, is the daily drama starring Tambaby, her unwavering desire for snacks, and Kifu, the silverback who sees absolutely everything.
It’s a dynamic that feels almost human—like watching a couple bicker over the last slice of pizza, except in this case the pizza is a carefully prepared pile of nutritious gorilla food, and the “bickering” involves side-eye glances, strategic body positioning, and a whole lot of classic silverback swagger.
And while it may look like harmless mischief (and trust me, it is adorable), these moments also reveal the extraordinary personalities, hierarchies, and relationships within gorilla families. They are small windows into the emotional world of a species that shares over 98% of our DNA—and a species we’ve dedicated our lives to rescuing, protecting, and, whenever possible, returning to the wild where they belong.
Welcome to a typical day in the life of Tambaby, Kifu, and the sanctuary that has become their home—and where their stories continue to shape conservation history.
Tambaby: The Sweetest Mastermind
Tambaby has always been one of the gentlest souls at our sanctuary. She’s soft-eyed, affectionate, endlessly curious, and, in moments like these, delightfully sneaky. I’ve known her since she was young, and she has always had this quiet intelligence about her—the kind that doesn’t shout, but strategizes.
Her method is always the same.
She sits a little too close.
She watches me with those big, hopeful eyes.
And then comes the nudge.
Not a shove. Not a pull.
Just a tiny, subtle, “psst… pass me a snack before Kifu notices.”
She doesn’t even need to communicate with gestures anymore. I swear, after all these years, we’ve developed a silent language—a shared understanding that transcends words.
Except, of course, for one very big, very muscled, very observant obstacle.
Kifu.
Kifu: The Silverback With Built-In Radar
If Tambaby is mischief, Kifu is might—wrapped in calm, confidence, and the absolute certainty that he is in charge.
Kifu is a classic silverback in every sense of the word. He carries himself with that unmistakable authority, that natural dignity that doesn’t need to be enforced. He simply is the leader.
And leaders, especially silverbacks who have earned their position through strength and wisdom, do not miss a thing.
Not a single thing.
So, when Tambaby begins her little routine…
When she edges herself ever so slightly in front of me, conveniently blocking Kifu’s line of sight…
When she gives me that “just one more piece” look…
Kifu is already watching.
He pretends he’s not. That’s part of the performance. His back is turned. His posture relaxed.
But I know better.
Tambaby knows better.
Everyone knows better.
It’s the silverback equivalent of a parent saying, “I’m not watching you,” while very much watching.
And the moment any food piece leaves my hand in her direction—snap—Kifu whirls around, chest out, eyes wide, as if to say:
“Absolutely NOT. That is my food.”
His timing is perfect. His reactions are instant. It’s like he has a sixth sense for snack-related injustice.
I’ve spent my entire life around gorillas, and still, he impresses me every time.
A Sanctuary Built on Trust, Rescue, & Hope
These playful battles over food take place in a setting with a much bigger purpose.
Our sanctuary is home to gorillas who, for one reason or another, cannot return to the wild—at least not immediately. Some arrive injured. Some are orphans. Some have been victims of poaching, trade, habitat loss, or human conflict.
Here, they heal.
They grow.
They form families.
They rediscover what it means to be gorillas.
And whenever possible—whenever a gorilla is strong enough, confident enough, and capable enough—we do what no one else in the world has done:
We send them back to the wild.
Not to captivity. Not to semi-wild enclosures.
But to the true, untouched forests of Gabon and Congo.
Where they belong.
Where they thrive.
Where over 80 gorillas from our projects have already returned, beginning new generations and expanding wild populations that desperately need protection. These rewilded gorillas have now produced more than 150 wild-born offspring, creating an ever-growing legacy of life and resilience.
We are proud to say—and humbled to carry the responsibility—that we are the only organisation in the world that has successfully reintroduced gorillas back into the wild, with an extraordinary 95% survival rate.
Every playful moment with Kifu and Tambaby, every family interaction, every challenge, every triumph—it all forms part of a much bigger mission.
A mission that is still unfolding today.
The Behaviour Behind the Comedy
While the scene of Tambaby trying to sneak snacks might feel like comedy gold (and trust me, it absolutely is), it also reveals something much deeper about gorilla behaviour.
1. Silverback Leadership
Kifu is doing what silverbacks do best—leading.
A silverback is responsible for maintaining order, protecting his family, and ensuring that resources are fairly distributed (or at least, distributed according to the silverback’s priorities!). Food is a prized resource, and guarding it asserts his authority.
2. Female Strategy
Tambaby’s subtle tactics aren’t manipulation—they’re intelligence. Female gorillas know how to navigate social dynamics. They use communication, positioning, and relationships to access what they need.
3. Social Bonds
That she tries to rope me into the plan speaks to trust. Gorillas form profound bonds with those who care for them. When those connections are built over a lifetime, they become part of their social world.
4. Humour & Personality
Anyone who doubts gorillas have personalities needs to meet these two. Their interactions are filled with character, emotion, and nuance.
The truth is: gorillas are funny.
They’re dramatic.
They’re expressive.
They’re clever.
Just like us.
Life With Gorillas: What People Don’t See
People often imagine living with gorillas is filled with adventure.
And it is.
But not in the way most expect.
It’s not about danger or adrenaline.
It’s about quiet hours, learning their moods, observing their body language, earning their trust inch by inch.
It’s about knowing when a head tilt means “play with me,” when a puff of air means “back up,” when a low rumble is contentment, and when a quick glance is a warning.
It’s about standing still for minutes at a time because a youngster fell asleep against your leg and waking him might hurt his feelings.
It’s about celebrating every milestone—first foraging behaviours, first displays of independence, first signs that a gorilla might one day return to the forest and reclaim its birthright.
And yes, it’s about daily soap-opera moments like Tambaby’s snack heists and Kifu’s dramatic food-guarding performances.
The Bigger Picture: Why These Moments Matter
To an outsider, this might just look like funny animal behaviour.
To us, it is evidence of something profound:
Their instincts are alive.
Their social systems are intact.
Their personalities are flourishing.
Their futures are possible.
A gorilla who can strategize like Tambaby…
A silverback who can assert authority like Kifu…
A troop that interacts with natural rhythms, challenges, and hierarchy…
These are signs that the gorillas in our care still carry the wild within them.
And that means they have the potential—if their health and circumstances allow—to return home someday.
Not every gorilla can be rewilded.
Kifu, for example, cannot go back.
And that’s why giving him a stable, loving, enriching life here is so important.
But his five sons?
They have gone home.
They now roam the forests of Africa—wild, strong, and free.
Tambaby’s lineage is out there too.
Their descendants, over 150 of them, are building families of their own.
And all of it…
Every life saved…
Every gorilla released…
Every baby born in the wild…
It all begins with the tiny moments.
The small memories.
The stories like this one.
A female trying to sneak food.
A silverback catching her.
A sanctuary where they are safe enough—and loved enough—to be themselves.
A Future Worth Fighting For
Our work doesn’t end with rescue.
It doesn’t end with care.
It doesn’t even end with rewilding.
Our mission continues through every acre we protect—over one million acres of habitat safeguarded by our teams. It continues through anti-poaching patrols, community partnerships, education programmes, and the commitment to proving that conservation can succeed.
Because it is working.
Because gorillas are returning.
Because their families are growing.
And because the world desperately needs these stories of hope.
The Video That Says It All
When people watch the video of Tambaby trying to snag food behind Kifu’s back, most laugh—and they should. It’s hilarious. It’s wholesome. It makes your day better.
But for us, it’s also a reminder:
These are not animals living out their lives in the shadow of extinction.
These are individuals with futures.
With agency.
With personalities.
With chances.
They are proof that conservation works when you protect, respect, and believe in the wild.
The Sanctuary That Became Family
I’ve spent my entire life with gorillas.
Some people grow up with dogs or cats.
I grew up with silverbacks and mischievous Tambabys.
I’ve watched infants grow into leaders.
I’ve watched rescues transform into wild gorillas again.
I’ve watched families reunite, expand, and thrive.
And moments like this—Tambaby’s hopeful glances, Kifu’s dramatic defenses, the laughter and love woven between them—are the threads that stitch together the incredible tapestry of this place.
A place where gorillas heal.
A place where they find purpose.
A place where their lives are not just protected, but fully lived.
Conclusion: More Than a Snack, More Than a Sanctuary
So yes—this story begins with food.
A sneaky Tambaby.
A watchful Kifu.
A moment of pure, classic silverback behaviour.
But beneath the humour is something bigger:
A sanctuary where love, dedication, and decades of hard work have given gorillas a second chance.
A conservation movement that continues to reshape the future of their species.
A story of resilience, hope, and the belief that every individual matters.
Tambaby’s cheekiness.
Kifu’s authority.
The playfulness, the tension, the affection—it’s all part of the same beautiful reality:
These gorillas are alive, thriving, safe, and deeply loved.
And for those who can, there is a path all the way back to the wild.
Over 80 gorillas rewilded.
Over 150 wild-born offspring.
A 95% survival rate.
And countless stories like this one, waiting to be told.
This is their home.
This is their sanctuary.
And this is just one small moment from the extraordinary lives we’re honoured to be part of.
