Acrylic on Canvas, 16 x 20 by Warren Deferbrache (WRD) 2022
Several years ago, I had the privilege of observing two elderly gorillas at the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle—a moment that left a lasting impression on me. Watching them move through their enclosure, I was captivated by their quiet dignity and the unmistakable human-like quality of their behavior. The male, in particular, struck me with his intelligence and gentleness. What fascinated me most was witnessing him carefully place a cloth on his head as the sun beat down, a simple yet profoundly thoughtful gesture to shield himself from the heat. In that instant, the line between human and animal blurred. Here was a being making a deliberate choice to protect his own comfort—a behavior so distinctly purposeful that it made me pause and reflect. Are we observing remarkable gorilla-like wisdom in the actions of humans, or do humans exhibit remarkably gorilla-like intelligence and care for themselves? The distinction becomes wonderfully unclear. That quiet afternoon at the zoo transformed my understanding of what we share with these magnificent creatures—a capacity for awareness, adaptation, and self-preservation that transcends the species divide.
