Wildlife photographer Gordon Buchanan had been filming for the BBC in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but as his camera crew was setting up, something very unexpected happened.

The rare footage they captured shows a huge silverback gorilla standing to the side of the road waiting for trucks to pass by. The giant gorilla had a tense look on his face and Gordon knew something was going on.

Gordon watched the creature for 20 minutes before he finally thought he knew what the gorilla was doing. He told the crews to step into the road to get a better look and sure enough, the gorilla’s intentions became clear.

With traffic stopped by Gordon’s crew and the trucks out of sight, the 1500 pound gorilla stepped out into the middle of the street. He stood guard while the rest of his family began crossing the road.

The Gorilla Highlands website explains that gorillas are naturally protective of the youngsters in the troop, which is why gorillas are notoriously aggressive when their family unit is present.

This silverback was willing to give his life to make sure his family crossed the road safely. Luckily, the entire family made it across the street and all of it was caught on video. Check it out below and be sure to share this story with your family and friends.