British naturalist’s Netflix documentary revisits Rwanda’s gorilla legacy
Renowned British naturalist David Attenborough has revisited the story of Rwanda’s mountain gorillas in a new Netflix documentary, A Gorilla Story: Told by David Attenborough, offering an intimate look at the life and legacy of a gorilla he first encountered nearly five decades ago.
Produced by Silverback Films, the documentary traces Attenborough’s first meeting with a young gorilla named Pablo in the forests of the Virunga Mountains, located in northern Rwanda, specifically in Kinigi.
According to Attenborough, the encounter remains one of the most defining moments of his career. While observing a group of female and juvenile gorillas in a forest clearing, he was astonished when they allowed him to approach.
“I remember the first time I met mountain gorillas. We found a group of females and juveniles in a small clearing and, to my astonishment, they allowed me to approach,” he says in the documentary.
He vividly recalls the moment that stayed with him ever since.
“I felt a weight on my feet and I looked down—there was little Pablo.”
Attenborough describes the encounter as one of the most important sequences not only in that series but in his entire filming career.
Over the years, Pablo grew into a dominant silverback, eventually forming his own group—now known as the Pablo group. The documentary follows this journey, highlighting how his descendants continue to thrive in the same mountainous habitat.
Nearly 50 years later, Attenborough revisits the story, focusing on the next generation of gorillas, including individuals such as Gicurasi and Teta, who now form the core of the family. The film showcases rare and previously unseen behaviour, from nurturing newborns to the complex social bonds that define gorilla life.
The documentary emphasises the strong sense of unity among gorillas, often expressed through close physical contact and subtle interactions. Despite their immense strength—where a single blow from a silverback could be fatal—Attenborough highlights their gentleness and emotional depth.
“There is more meaning and mutual understanding in exchanging a glance with a gorilla than with any other animal I know,” he reflects.
The documentary is now streaming on Netflix.
