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36 THE GORILLA'S CHEST-BEATING Why does a gorilla beat its chest? It depends on the gorilla - and on the situation. In some instances, the flamboyant and intimidating gesture may be just what it seems: a warning to keep away. When truly aroused, the leader of the gorilla troop rises and drums his chest rapidly, palms open and slightly cupped. Then he explodes into a charge which may or may not be a bluff. Scientists who have been charged at by gorillas report that the animals almost always stop short of violence - unless the human intruder responds in a hostile manner. Sometimes chest-beating is only an expression of relief after the danger has passed, a means of keeping in touch with other gorillas in the troop, or a way of warning other troops away from the feeding area. Some gorillas, especially the young ones, often beat their chests as expressions of high spirits. One thing the gorilla does not do is stage a victory celebration by drumming furiously on his chest after he has just cracked an opponent's spine. That sort of thing happens only in the movies.
