Sometimes animals lose their parents and have to rely on the kindness of humans to survive. Luckily, there are many people who dedicate their lives to caring for these animals. They can even become a real parental figure for them.
The trust between such animals and their caregivers was beautifully illustrated in a viral photo, showing two orphaned gorillas posing for a “selfie” with one of their rescuers.
Unfortunately, one of those gorillas recently passed away – and a new photo shows that her bond with her human friends endured until the end.
Found as an orphan
Virunga National Park, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, is dedicated to protecting the local wildlife, including a population of endangered mountain gorillas that constantly face threats from illegal poaching.
In April 2007, park rangers stumbled upon a heartbreaking scene: a two-month-old baby gorilla clinging to the lifeless body of her mother, who had been shot by an armed militia.
Knowing the baby gorilla was orphaned, they took her in, and park ranger Andre Bauma formed an immediate bond: “All night long, Andre kept the baby close to him, her small body tightly pressed against his bare chest for warmth and comfort,” Virunga stated in a press release.
The orphaned gorilla, named Ndakasi, enjoyed a happy life in the park, living with another orphaned gorilla named Ndeze, and maintaining a close bond with her caregivers.
Selfie seen around the world
The entire world witnessed that special bond in 2019, when a unique and stunning photo of the gorillas went viral.
In the photo, Ndakasi and Ndeze pose for a “selfie” with their friend and caretaker Mathieu Shamavu. The gorillas are both standing upright and appear to be casually posing for the funny photo.
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